Adolphus Gustavus Trost 1876 - 1957 - SEAoT

(which subsequently became the American Concrete Institute). A Joint Committee on Concrete
and Reinforced Concrete was established by the American Society of Civil Engineers, The
American Society for Testing Materials, the American Railroad Engineering Association and the
Association of American Portland Cement Manufacturers in 1904. This group was later joined by
the American Concrete Institute. The Committee sponsored research related to reinforced
concrete between 1904 and 1910. A preliminary Report was issued in 1913 and a Final Report
was published in 1916. 3
Although there were examples of concrete construction in Europe and in parts of the United States
during the previous decade, there was no unified approach to design. Many of the methods of
construction (and the assumptions behind them) were patented. Several people advanced
theories and conducted successful practical demonstration projects, including C. A. P. Turner and
Ernest L. Ransome. Meanwhile, others who tried to construct in reinforced concrete suffered
dramatic failures.
While serving as the structural engineer for the firm of Trost and Trost, from 1908 until 1951, the
firm gained an enviable reputation for the design of many projects in the El Paso and greater
southwest area, including projects in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Many of the projects
are considered historically significant and include the following, most notably for their innovative
design and excellence.
Mr. Trost was elected as an Associate Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1913,
became a member in 1917, and in 1947 was designated as a Life Member. 7 Adolphus Gustavus
Trost was registered as a professional engineer in Arizona in 1922, and became a licensed
professional engineer in 1939 in the state of Texas, not long after Texas passed legislation to
establish The Texas Engineering Practice Act. His Registration Number was 1513. 8
Ad was a member of the AF & AM and the Scottish Rite Bodies of El Paso. He was affiliated with
the Lutheran Church. Ad was married to Carolyn Haynes for 42 years. 7
The following is a list of the books, which belonged to Mr. Trost and which were left to the El Paso
Public Library: 6
Basic Mathematics for Engineers by Wiley
Mathematics for Engineers by Dull
Continuity in Concrete Building Frame by the Portland Cement Association
The Calculus by John Graham
A Primer of Calculus by Hathaway
Handbooks of Mathematics by Claudel
Reinforced Concrete by Charles F. Marsh
Adolphus Gustavus Trost died on July 27, 1957, at the age of 81, and was survived by his wife
Carolyn. 7