ACI: a Century of Progress
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In our recognition of ACI’s centennial, we also celebrate the development and growth of the concrete industry. In this first 100 years, ACI has achieved the maturity to feel proud about the progress attained and has the maturity to look forward with confidence to the goals for the next 100. Globalization and electronic communications make the world smaller every day. It is important to recognize that a worldwide concrete community/industry exists. The mission for each of us is to build a reservoir of knowledge and cooperation to meet and solve the worldwide needs of that community. Concrete can easily be called the best construction material invented by man. For concrete to be recognized and succeed as the prime construction material, we must work together to develop and expand the excellence of our workforce. That workforce includes every single individual and organization involved in making concrete the extraordinary material that it is: students, professors, researchers, technicians, craftsmen, inspectors, materials and product producers, engineers, designers, architects, and even owners. We will need to follow all possible paths so that 100 years from now we will have transformed every goal into an achievement and every hope into history. —José M. Izquierdo ACI President 2003 ACI: A Century of Progress American Concrete Institute: A Century of Progress .................................................................................................... 2 1904-1929: Formation and Growth .............................................................................................................................. 3-22 A Selection of Concrete and World Events: 1904-1929 ......................................................................................... 23-27 ACI Past Presidents: 1904-1929....................................................................................................................................... 28 1930-1954: An Era of Expansion ................................................................................................................................ 29-41 A Selection of Concrete and World Events: 1930-1954 ......................................................................................... 42-47 ACI Past Presidents: 1930-1954.................................................................................................................................. 48-49 1955-1979: A New Home and an Expanded Mission ................................................................................................ 50-66 A Selection of Concrete and World Events: 1955-1979 ......................................................................................... 67-74 ACI Past Presidents: 1955-1979.................................................................................................................................. 75-76 1980-2004: Advancing Technology through the Millennium .................................................................................. 77-93 A Selection of Concrete and World Events: 1980-2004 ....................................................................................... 94-100 ACI Past Presidents: 1980-2004.............................................................................................................................. 101-102 Epilogue .................................................................................................................................................................... 103-104 American Concrete Institute Awards............................................................................................................................ 105 Personal Awards ...................................................................................................................................................... 105-117 Honorary Members .................................................................................................................................................. 117-118 ACI Fellows .............................................................................................................................................................. 118-123 This book is dedicated to the many thousands of American Concrete Institute members who, over the past century, have developed the standards, recommendations, and information that have made concrete the extraordinary material that it is. ACI: A CENTURY OF PROGRESS 1 ACI: A Century of Progress BY ROBERT E. WILDE “When the Institute shall have acquired the venerability that one hundred years of honorable achievement will confer, what a great privilege it will be for its members to review the marvelous progress of the industry in the light of the con- structive work shown in the Institute records.” —Richard L. Humphrey consulting engineer and ACI past president on the occasion of ACI’s 20th anniversary, 1924 he history of an organization is a combination of events linking people, ideas, and activities. The American T Concrete Institute, and its predecessor, the National Association of Cement Users, were born of ideas—the concept that better concrete for more durable, maintenance-free structures is possible. The American Concrete Institute reflects developments and knowledge within the concrete industry and the field of engineering, while at the same time influences those developments. Space does not permit covering all aspects of ACI history and its technical efforts, or citing all the “great names” and the many officers, committee members, and innovators who have contributed time and effort so generously to ACI work and industry progress. The Institute owes its growth to many such people. The Ward House in Port Chester, NY, was recognized by the American Concrete Institute and the American Society of Civil Engineers as a “National Historic Civil and Concrete Engineering Landmark.” Built between 1873 and 1876, the house is recognized as the first and oldest extant reinforced concrete building in the U.S. The Ward House was constructed entirely of portland-cement concrete reinforced with I-beams and rods of iron. The structure demonstrated the practicability of reinforced concrete as a construction material for fireproof permanent buildings. 2 ACI: A CENTURY OF PROGRESS 1904-1929: Formation and Growth arly in the 20th century, a competitive market with a of Philadelphia to the president’s post. Humphrey went E serious lack of standard practice in making concrete on to hold the position for a decade. While widely known block had resulted in conditions unsatisfactory for as a railway engineer, Humphrey was also recognized for building with concrete. In the summer of 1904 Charles C. his standardization activity. Only a few years before Brown, editor of Municipal Engineering, Indianapolis, IN, NACU came into being, he and others in the Philadelphia at the suggestion of A. S. J. Gammon, Universal Concrete area were involved in the formation of the American Machinery Co., Norfolk, VA, and John P. Given, Cement Society for Testing Materials, now known as ASTM Machinery Co., Circleville, OH, undertook the formation International. of an organization to discuss the problem and attempt to The objective of the new society “to disseminate bring some order to this expanding use of concrete. An information and experience upon and to promote the editorial in the September 1904 issue of Municipal best methods to be employed in the various uses of Engineering publicized the idea and requested sugges- cement by means of conventions, the reading and tions of those interested as to the advisability of forming discussion of papers upon materials of a cement nature an association to promote this objective. In only a and their uses, by social and friendly intercourse at such month, editor Brown declared that “not less than 100 conventions, the exhibition and study of materials, persons expressed the desire to become members.” machinery, and methods, and to circulate among its The hearty response resulted in an informal meeting members, by means of publications, the information in October 1904, during the Engineering Congress at the thus obtained,” was not materially different from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, MO, held to present aims of the American Concrete Institute. commemorate the centennial of the U.S. land purchase The varied interests of those present were reflected in from France. The original suggestion was to form an the committees appointed to study: concrete block and association of manufacturers of concrete block machines cement products; streets, sidewalks and floors; reinforced to educate the users of such machines in the proper concrete; art and architecture; testing of cement and methods of making good block, and to alert architects to cement products; machinery for cement users; fireproof- the “necessity of paying attention to the material of ing and insurance; and laws and ordinances. One of the which a building is to be constructed.” After the informal meeting, the scope of the organization was extended to cover all the various uses of cement to bring about a better knowledge of the art. OBJECTIVE ESTABLISHED In the ensuing months, this trio of enthusiasts was instrumental in arousing interest in a convention dealing with concrete problems, which was held in Indianapolis January 17-19, 1905. A surprisingly large number of people—605—showed up. Of those 605 in attendance, 161 were enrolled as members at $5 annual dues. The society known as the National Association