ASME President, 1974 - 1975

Richard B. Robertson, Member ASME, and Executive Vice President and director, Bovay Engineers, Inc., Houston, Texas, is an engineer’s engineer.  He has actively supported and promoted the engineer’s efforts toward professional recognition and status, professional attitudes, goals and reimbursement.

Upon joining ASME in 1955, Robertson became involved immediately in Society activities, first working in the South Texas Section and rising to Chairman; then as Secretary and Vice President of Region X.  Currently, at the national level, Robertson is a member of the Policy Board, Professional Affairs; representative to EJC; and a member of the Professional Practice Committee.  Our President’s orientation in committee work attests to his concern for the career goals of engineers: he sponsored the first Student Sections in Mexico; helped formulate the GOALS Program at Arden House in 1970; chaired Task Force No.$ and an ad hoc Committee which helped draft the recently published “Guidelines to Professional Employment for Engineers and Scientists.”

Phenomenal as it may seem, Roberson has also found time to work with NSPE committees; the Engineers Council of Houston, of which he is immediate Past President; the American Institute of Consulting Engineers; and, for a time, to act as director and President of the Houston Engineering and Scientific Society.  For a number of years Robertson has served as a consultant to Texas A&M University on Utilities and in 1971 was made an Honorary Member of the Sigma Delta Chapter of Pi Tau Sigma at the University.

Robertson is a 1942 graduate of Purdue University with a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering, and is a registered professional engineer in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, California and Washington.  During his 25 years with Bovay Engineers, Inc., a major consulting firm, he helped bring it to its present international status.  Robertson has dealt mostly with the power industry and energy questions.  He has managed power projects ranging from small industrial and institutional plants to major utility power stations and has also authored several articles and papers on power generation and energy conservation.  Robertson is also a director of Limbough Engineers, Inc. of Albuquerque, N.M., an affiliate firm of Bovary Engineers, Inc.

Although a long time resident of Houston, Texas, Robertson is a native Hoosier, born May 8, 1920 in Terre Haute, Indiana.  He and his wife Marcine have five children – four daughters and one son – all Texans.  Marcine is a founder of the Woman’s Auxiliary South Texas Section and its first Chairwoman.  Currently, she is the Auxiliary’s National Newsletter Editor.