Honoring an Unsung Woman Pioneer in Engineering
Leah Moncure, PE, who in 1938 became Texas’ first woman professional engineer, worked 32 years for the Texas Highway Department (now TxDOT), specializing in research, right-of-way and road design.
It was especially fitting that Freese and Nichols Executive Vice President for Operations Tricia Hatley, PE, F.NSPE, ENV SP, was among the dignitaries who attended the Jan. 13 unveiling of a new historical marker to honor Moncure’s achievements. A trailblazer in her own career, Trish is a Past President of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Texas Society of Professional Engineers. And her broad experience includes planning, designing and managing projects involving highways, roadways and other transportation infrastructure.
Jessica Vassar, PE, and Maia Dupes, EIT, both members of Freese and Nichols’ Water/Wastewater Master Planning group in the Austin office, joined Trish and other NSPE and TSPE representatives at the ceremony.
The marker in front of Moncure’s childhood home in Bastrop, Texas, is part of the Texas Historical Commission’s “Undertold” program to recognize significant contributions that haven’t been appropriately spotlighted.
A TxDOT story about the marker said that “Moncure’s trailblazing spirit paved the way” for more than 300 women engineers now working for the agency.
The marker unveiling was cosponsored by the Bastrop County Historical Commission and King’s Highway Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.