Contrary to our report in the spring 2007 TRANSIT, Debra Virgens is alive and well, and proud that the report to Chi Epsilon was incorrect. We don’t know how or why it was reported that Debra was among the deceased members of Chi Epsilon, but we are surely pleased with the opportunity to retract the report. She reported to us that she was still among the living, and that she will contact us when the situation changes.

The 40th National Conclave is approaching rapidly, and it is to be held on March 13-15 at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. We are expecting a good attendance for this biennial meeting in which the members make decisions that will direct the affairs of the Society for the next two years.

With that said, we can now announce the 41st Conclave to be held at the University of Alabama in the spring of 2010. Be there!

Allen Kelly was born in Lima, Ohio to Alice and Charles Kelly. He graduated from Lima public schools in 1951 and attended Wabash College in Crawfordville, Indiana until January 1953 when he entered the U.S. Army. While at Wabash College, he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Allen and Barbara Lee Black were married in June 1953 and upon Allen’s return from Korea, they lived in the state of Washington while he was stationed at Ft. Lewis Washington.

Following discharge for active military in January 1956, the Kellys moved to Texas where Allen attended the A&M College of Texas and received the Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in Civil Engineering. After graduating in 1960, Allen was employed by General Dynamics/Fort Worth as a Structural Engineer. He left GD/FW in 1964 for the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned his PhD in 1970.

While in Austin, he was engaged as the project engineer for the analysis and design of foundations for off-shore, deep water drilling structures for the consulting firm of Matlock, Hudson, Dawkins and Panak, Research Engineers Incorporated. He also served as a graduate assistant, and later as a Visiting Assistant Professor on the faculty of the Department of Civil Engineering of the University of Texas at Austin.

Allen joined the faculty of the School of Civil Engineering at Oklahoma State University in 1970 as an Assistant Professor. After several years of very active work in research, teaching, and student advising, Dr. Kelly was promoted to Professor of Civil Engineering. For over 20 years, Allen was engaged in research for the Joint Technical Coordinating Group for Munitions Effectiveness, an agency of the Department of Defense, in the area of vulnerability of structures to blast, penetration, and impact loading. As a faculty member, he served student organizations as an advisor to the OSU chapter of Tan Beta Pi and was the Central District Councilor and OSU chapter advisor for Chi Epsilon.

In 1988, Allen was appointed to the position of Associate Dean and Director of Research in the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology. As the Director of Research, he oversaw an annual research effort of approximately $12 million. Allen retired from Oklahoma State University in 1995.

During his career as an engineer/educator, Dr. Kelly was a member of a number of professional organizations, including the ASCE, and the National Society of Professional Engineers. He was a member of several academic honor societies, and was elected as a Chapter Honor Member of the Oklahoma State University chapter of Chi Epsilon, the National Civil Engineering Honor Society.

Following retirement, Allen and Barbara moved to the Eaglewood Golf and Tennis Community in Hobe Sound, Florida, where he became an enthusiastic golfer.

Allen served during the Korean conflict in the 3rd Infantry Division, and afterwards, as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves. He returned from Korea as a Sergeant First Class, where he served as the First Sergeant of Headquarter & Headquarters Battery of the 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division Artillery. As a member of the U.S. Army Reserves with the 95th Division (Training), he was engaged in the training of both infantry soldiers and Drill Sergeants – the trainers. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserves as a Command Sergeant Major, a position he held with the 4th Battalion of the 3rd Brigade and the 3rd Brigade Headquarters of the 9th Division (Training). Following retirement from the U.S. Army Reserves, Allen served as an Oklahoma Committee member of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. He was a Life Member of the Society of the Third Infantry Division.

Paul A. Parisi died on September 28, 2007, following a 40–year career in scientific and engineering publishing. In December 1992, he retired from the position of Publications Business Manager for the American Institute of Physics. Prior to joining AIP in 1983, he was Assistant Executive Director for Engineering Index, and until 1979, he was Director of Publication Services for the American Society of Civil Engineers, after 26 years on ASCE’s publications staff. In 1965, he was elected a Chapter Honor Member of the Cooper Union Chapter of Chi Epsilon.

Paul Parisi graduated from The Cooper Union in 1950 with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering degree. In June 1950, June 1955, and June 1956, he was an Instructor of Surveying at Cooper Union’s Summer Surveying Camp. In 1956 and 1957, he was an Adjunct Instructor of Civil Engineering in Cooper’s Evening Engineering School. In 1970 – 71, he served as President of The Cooper Union Alumni Association; he previously served as Editor in Chief, Secretary, and Vice President. In 1975, he was named Alumnus of the Year of The Cooper Union Alumni Association.

At ASCE, Parisi was responsible for the move to photo-offset printing in the 1950’s, the use of computerized composition in the 1960’s, and the development of the conference proceedings publications program in the 1970’s. He also managed the change from Proceedings Separates to Division Journals in the 1950’s. In addition to his work on publications, from 1963 to 1979 he managed the ASCE awards program.

Civil Engineer/Surveyor John Wier has a keen appreciation for the history and heritage of both civil engineering and the state of Texas. He has combined these interests to write various articles on the history of civil engineering, and these have been published in the newsletter of the Ft. Worth Branch of ASCE.

For his “special contributions to recording and/or recognizing the history and heritage of civil engineering in Texas,” Wier was presented the Texas Section, ASCE “History & Heritage Award” recently at the fall 2006 meeting of the Texas Section ASCE held in Ft. Worth. His articles as published in the ASCE Newsletter can be viewed on the website at www.WierAssociates.com/resources/history.asp.

Wier’s interest in Texas history prompted his production of articles published in 2005 in the Heritage of Hill County, Texas entitled , “Establishment and Restoration of the Covington Cemetery”, “Company A of the 12th Texas Cavalry”, and “Capt. Joseph P. Wier (1832-1864).”

John Wier graduated from UT Arlington with the BSCE in 1972. He founded the firm Wier & Associates in 1978. He was initiated in Chi Epsilon in 1972, and was elevated to Chapter Honor Member in April 1985.