The First Forty Years of NACE 1956 through 1995 - FACERS

FOREWORD
By C. Arthur Elliott
Charter Member, President 1961, retired Green County, Iowa, Engineer
In the l950s it was more and more evident the progress of our national agricultural and industrial
effort was, to a large extent, dependent on the modernization of our overall highway transportation
systems. The food and fiber that fed us and the source of raw materials that, through industry,
enhanced the quality of life and controlled our economy originated for the most part in the open rural
areas. The output of the land and the welfare of those whose efforts produced these raw materials
was first dependent on an all-weather modem rural or secondary highway system. A secondary
system operable in all seasons could deliver to the State and thence to the Interstate Highways these
raw materials, and in turn receive and distribute back the services so necessary to the quality control
of our rural or urban society.
The County Engineers’ unique responsibility for the complete engineering details and their application
to the urban or secondary highway systems were not being adequately served by their existing
professional societies. The engineers observed, that through the National Association of Counties,
other County Officer groups were gaining their rightful recognition and receiving the benefits of the
National Organization.
Bernie Hillenbrand, Executive Director of NACO and Howard Bussard of the Automotive Safety
Foundation, were devoting considerable time and effort by contacting individual engineers and
attending County Engineer group meetings. Their thrust was the formation of a National Association
of County Engineers. To the benefit of a larger and more representative NACO, Bernie lectured to
the few County Engineers attending the annual NACO meetings. Howard, a former Minnesota
County Engineer, preached to the engineers the benefits of more uniform standards, importance of
office, and more cooperation with State and Federal Agencies through national organization.
In John Benson, then Covington County, Alabama Engineer, and later Manatee County, Florida
Engineer, Howard found an ambitious and enthusiastic convert. The successful birth of NACE at Salt
Lake City on or about July 20, 1956, was John Benson’s second attempt to establish a National
County Engineers Association. At the Salt Lake meeting Howard Bussard was a powerful catalyst
to the successful NACE formation and from then on contributed great enthusiasm and effort to our
embryonic growth. Bernie Hillenbrand continued to provide advice, encouragement and some
financial help, and was aLso a great influence in the placing of NACE members on National Highway
elated committees
Early m our existence, Marian Hankerd with the Automotive Safety Foundation, was working with
Howard Bussard on his NACE activities. Marian became the Sweetheart of NACE and no meeting
was complete without her, Her loyalty and assistance never wavered.
In the beginning, the NACO conventions and conferences were the most important medium for the
distribution of NACE information. Through the State County Engineer organizations, of those States
that had them. and NACE member attendance at their County Engineer conferences and seminars.
the gospel of NACE was gradually spread across the land. How pleased we were when the largest
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