News Detail

A Swan Song

3/1/1999

This issue of Concrete International including this President’s Memo should be reaching members and subscribers as we prepare to attend the spring convention in the "Windy City." We look forward to an interesting, educational, challenging, and enjoyable meeting for all members and guests of the Institute who attend. It is hoped all who attend this educational event, combined with the important networking with other attendees, will also provide the opportunity to visit with old and new friends alike.

As you very likely are aware, the Chicago convention will be my last as President and this will be my final President’s Memo. In view of this, it seems appropriate to use this memo to review and memorialize some of the highlights of the past several months after I "took the reins" from President Richard N. White at the very end of the Houston convention in the spring of 1998.

By far the most significant event for the Institute, the staff, and members during 1998-99 was George F. Leyh’s announcement of his intent to retire as Executive Vice President of the Institute, in the summer of 1998. Many of you will recall his announcement. Needless to say, this came as a shock to us all even though it should not have been. George had held the position for 22 plus years, a long term for a position of this type.

The Executive Committee commenced taking the steps necessary to form a Search Committee charged with finding a replacement for this position. Jim Pierce, past president of the Institute, agreed to lead the Search Committee and this committee, with the Board of Direction’s consent, was formed and underway.

The new Executive Vice President, James G. Toscas, was at the Los Angeles convention in October but not able to attend the entire event. Those of you who did not have the opportunity to meet Jim at that time should introduce yourselves to him at the March convention in Chicago.

This also seems like an appropriate forum and time to reflect on the Institute and some of the activities and changes that have taken place since I became a member of the Institute (in 1952, nearly a half-century ago) as well as new developments that are currently taking place.

In late 1949 when I graduated from Oregon State College, World War II had been over for several years and the Korean War was underway. There was a considerable amount of ongoing construction in an attempt to meet the demand for new highways, buildings, housing, dams, etc., that could not be accomplished during World War II. The use of prestressed concrete was receiving considerable attention as the "new" concrete construction material. (In spite of the fact that it had been used successfully in Europe in the 1930s, ACI had formed a prestressed concrete committee in 1942, and wire-wrapped, prestressed concrete tanks had been erected at U.S. military facilities during or soon after WW II.)

The growth of ACI over the past 50 years has had significant impact on the Institute as well as its conventions. This, of course, should not be surprising in view of the large increase in the U.S. population and improvements in transportation after World War II. The improvements and growth of the commercial air transportation industry made it possible for many of us to attend meetings of all types throughout the U.S. as well as in Canada and Mexico. The membership growth and convention attendance has changed some of the Institute’s functions, like the old General Sessions with sit-down lunches at tables of eight attendees.

There have been other significant changes in ACI over the past 20 years not apparent to members who have not attended conventions or kept themselves informed of actions of the Board of Direction and the various committees. One of these is the increase in the number of committees; for example, there are now more than 110 technical committees, not counting administrative, educational, and certification committees. Members of ACI should be aware of this and, for their own enlightenment, keep abreast of committee activities at convention sessions and in the various publications. Members who can should give serious consideration to joining an ACI committee and become involved in its activities.

One of the major committees but not really well known is the Concrete Research and Education Foundation (ConREF), a not-for-profit corporation which was formed for ACI involvement in two areas. The Concrete Innovations Appraisal Service (CIAS), which reports to ConREF, is a for-profit organization which, among other activities, was created to increase the knowledge and understanding of concrete materials and their uses and to support programs that will improve concrete design and construction.

The establishment of CIAS is now completed and it is ready to serve the members of the Institute who have need for an independent evaluation of new products containing portland cement. It is anticipated that a wide variety of products intended for use in large and small concrete components for buildings, bridges, and other structures will be independently evaluated by CIAS. Interested parties should contact ACI headquarters for further information.

I could go on and on but I think this gives members the idea that ACI is well positioned for the arrival of a new century. It has been an honor and privilege for me to serve the Institute. Many thanks to all for your help and patience. And good luck to my successor, Jo Coke!

James R. Libby
President
American Concrete Institute

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