Articles

ASCE INVOLVEMENT:

Mr. Patton’s contributions to the ASCE Dallas Branch date back to the early 1970’s, when he became Program Chairman during the presidential term of Dick Turner,1974. In 1977 Mr. Patton was active with committees for the Dallas Branch when they hosted the National ASCE Spring Conference.  After serving in leadership positions for several years in the Branch in 1981-82, Mr. Patton served as ASCE Dallas Branch President. In addition to his contributions to the Dallas Branch, Mr. Patton also volunteered in the ASCE Texas Section, where he served on a variety of committees since the early 1970’s and served as Vice President of Technical Affairs in 1983-84. As a long-term Board Member and serving in other Texas Section committees, Mr. Patton served as Texas Section President from 1989-90. After this Board term, he was appointed to the District 15 Council representing the Texas Section and served as the Council Chairman in 1992. After serving on national technical and professional committees for a few years he was elected to ASCE Board of Direction (1998-2001) where he filled those duties and served on appointed national committees. He continued to serve on these committees after his term until 2003. When the national Board of Direction was reorganized, he served as one of the first Regional Governors representing the Texas Section from 2005 to 2008. With the formation of Technical Institutes, he has been active and represented the Geo-Institute on the Academy of Geo Professionals (AGP) committee to initiate the Specialty Certification program for Geo-technical engineers as a Diplomate, Geo-technical Engineering (D.GE). He also served on the AGP Engineering Leadership Committee from 2012 to 2019.   

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Mr. Patton’s honor traits are characterized by his community involvement well beyond what is expected of a community leader. Mr. Patton is first and foremost a family man, but with the support of his wife and children he has been involved in several civic, community and religious activities throughout his career. The Pattons have been active members of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church for over 40 years and raised their 3 children there. Mr. Patton has been a regular worshiper, member of the usher’s corps, pastoral care, stewardship, supporter of music programs, active in outreach mission work, the building and grounds committee and currently a parish leader in the Brotherhood of St. Andrews Chapter. Mr. Patton previously served Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church as a vestryman, usher, and Junior Warden. Since 1974 he has been an active member of Rotary International in the Park Cities Rotary Club of Dallas. In the club he has served on the Board of Directors, many committees and the club’s missions and programs. For the past, several years he has participated with the Meals on Wheels program sponsored by the Dallas Chapter of the VNA.   

Bob served as participant and a leader for his daughters in the YMCA’s Indian Princess Program and with his son’s Indian Guides Program for several years. He also attended many father and son or daughter school, social, and church activities with each of them. In Boy Scouts of America, he served as a merit badge teacher and assistant to scout master on camping and hiking activities. In their neighborhoods, he has served on several Homeowners Association Boards of Directors and their various sub committees. In recent years, he has been Chair of the Turtle Creek Association neighborhood committees to plant trees, stream preservation, and sidewalk, median construction in local parks and on boulevard roadways. He has also served the public as an elected member of the Board of Directors for the Park Cities Water District. In the business and academic communities, he has served on the Board of the Dallas Executives Association and as President in 1982. Since 1992 he has supported and been a Patron to the Buchanan Lecture at Texas A&M University.  

PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL INVOLVEMENT:

Mr. Patton’s extensive professional and technical expertise has made him a respected leader in the Geo-technical engineering community. He has over 50 years of professional engineering experience on major engineering projects, specializing in the fields of Geo-technical engineering, construction materials engineering, foundation engineering, and engineering geology. During his career, he has obtained, conducted, directed, and managed Geo-technical and construction materials engineering assignments in Texas, the contiguous states, and foreign countries for a diverse range of projects. His expertise also includes providing consulting expert services on Geo-technical engineering and construction materials engineering claims and dispute resolutions.  

A FEW EXCERPTS FROM BOB’S LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: 

“Mr. Patton’s dedication to the civil engineering profession through his professional service to the ASCE Dallas Branch, his character and honor traits, his community involvement and his professional and technical expertise make him the perfect choice to uphold the high standards of this award” - Rachel R. Hayden, P.E., Dallas Branch Past-President ‘09-‘10 

“He has always displayed characteristics that separate him from the crowd and can be summed up in stating that he is a true gentleman” - John W. Johnston, P.E. President, Henley-Johnston & Associates, Inc. 

“He goes above and beyond what is expected, and I have benefitted from his generosity, his advice, and his dedication to those causes in which he believes: God, family, business, and friendship” - The Rev. Greg Pickens, Associate for Pastoral Care 

“…it is mainly the skilled, experienced, ethical, calm, leadership and management skills of Robert S. Patton that the Texas Section of ASCE was able to both survive and eventually thrive as a voluntary organization” – Dayle M. Clark, P.E., Dallas Branch Past-President ’86-‘87 

“…no short recommendation could adequately, let alone comprehensively, capture the quality of character and dedication to right living of Bob Patton” - Rodney W. Pirtle, Friend and fellow Rotarian