Luther W. Graef is the CEO and Chairman Emeritus of the engineering company he co-founded, Graef, Anholt, Schloemer and Associates, Inc., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, having previously served as designer and manager, President (1985-93) and Chairman of Board (1993-01) between the years of 1962 to the present. He was born in Milwaukee, WI, on August 14, 1931, and currently resides in Franklin, a suburb of Milwaukee. He received his bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Marquette University (in Milwaukee) in 1952 and continued on to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he received his master of science degree in civil engineering in 1961.

Mr. Graef began his professional career in 1953, serving in the U.S. Army as Executive and Survey Officer for Artillery Battalions until 1956. He worked for Charles Yoder and Associates as Project Engineer and Design Engineer on buildings and municipal projects from 1956 to 1961. In 1962, he co-founded the company that bears his name serving in various capacities to the present designing, managing, and supervising projects in the areas of foundation, industrial structures, transportation, buildings, and the structural portions of civil works projects, with a principal focus on structural consultancy. The firm has some 200 employees. It has been said, “If you were to place a pin on every building in Milwaukee where he worked, the city would be full of pins.” He is a Registered Professional Engineer in Wisconsin (1950) and Colorado (1966).

Luther Graef’s enthusiasm and passion for the engineering profession, and in particular civil engineering, is overwhelming. From becoming a member of The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) as an undergraduate at Marquette to serving as ASCE National President in 1997-1998 and all the innumerable ASCE positions in between, Mr. Graef has stressed to the profession the need to improve the self-image of engineers, that civil engineers “have the ability and knowledge to become leaders (and that they should do so)”, and the importance of civil engineers taking pride in their profession and knowing about its history. His ASCE involvement has included some 30 different positions in the Wisconsin Section and at the National level. Mr. Graef is a Fellow in ASCE.

In addition, he has served in leadership positions (President, Director, Chairman, etc.) in American Consulting Engineers Council, Society of American Military Engineers, American Association of Engineering Societies, World Federation of Engineering Societies, Engineers and Scientists of Milwaukee, and Wisconsin Society of Professional Engineers. Academically, throughout his professional career, Mr. Graef has served as member and chairman of various boards, advisory committees, accreditation evaluation programs, conferences, and programs at universities in Wisconsin and others around the country. His commitment to professional and business practices, ethics, and engineering education has given him the opportunity to deliver more than 60 presentations. He has been a leader, not only in all that is mentioned above, but also, in Boy Scouts of America, The Lutheran Church, and civic groups.

Luther W. Graef was first elected to Chi Epsilon in 1952 at Marquette University, Chapter No. 35, chartered in 1950, with a general number of 7666 and a chapter number of 59. He has been elevated to Chapter Honor Member at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1993 with a chapter number of 1202 and at Marquette University in 1998 with a chapter number of 774. The Supreme Council was privileged to elevate Luther W. Graef to be the 56th National Honor Member of Chi Epsilon at the University of Wisconsin, Madison on March 9, 2002.