Leland (Lee) J. Walker has counted in and has been counted on by our noble profession since 1944. After founding Northern Engineering and Testing, Inc., in 1958, he served as Chairman of the Board until his retirement on April 2, 1988.

Lee Walker was born in Falcon, Nevada, in 1923. At age six, he moved to Montana and his lived there since, except for military service and one year in Denver, Colorado. In 1944, he received a B.S. in C.E. from Iowa State College. Graduate studies were taking at the University of Colorado and Colorado State University.

His professional career includes: U.S. Navy, Civil Engineering Corps, 1943-46; U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, 1946-51, last position, District Materials Engineer; U.S. Naval C.E. Research Laboratory, LCDR, 1951-53; U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Tiber Dam, Montana, Chief Concrete Inspector and Head, Control Laboratory, 1953-55; and Wenzel and Co., Consulting Engineers, Vice-President, 1955-58.

His firm, Northern Engineering and Testing, Inc., Consulting Geotechnical Engineers, has facilities in Montana, Idaho, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The firm provides field and laboratory controlled testing and consulting services to engineers and industry.

Our profession was fortunate to have Lee Walker serve as National President of ASCE in 1976-77. This Montana mainstay also served with distinction as National President, Accrediting Board of Engineering and Technology, 1980-83. He has furnished leadership to at least 10 professional and 25 civic and community organizations.

Mr. Walker was on the State of Montana Governor’s Committee to create a Science and Technology Board and served five years on that Board. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Montana and Idaho. Lee and his wife Margaret have three children, Tom, Peggy, and Tim.

His numerous awards and honors include: Member, National Academy of Engineering, 1984; Named by Engineering News Record “Men Who Made Their Marks” in Construction, 1967; Iowa State University Professional Achievement Award, 1979; Montana State University Blue and Gold Award, 1981; Who’s Who in Engineering; Who’s Who in the United States; Who’s Who in Finance and Industry; Who’s Who in the West; and Honorary Doctorate Degree – Montana State University, 1983.

Mr. Walker was first elected to Chi Epsilon on May 31, 1972, at Montana State University, chapter no. 76, chartered in 1971, as a Chapter Honor Member with a general number of 32,178 and an individual chapter number of 422. The Supreme Council elevated Leland J. Walker to be the 46th National Honor Member at Purdue University on April 9, 1988, during the 30th National Conclave.