Distinguished Engineer Citations

                 

Arnold Maeker

Distinguished Engineer

1991

Degree

Civil Engineering – 1947

 

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 1991

Arnold Maeker was born July 15, 1920, in Wilson, Texas. He received his B.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University in 1946. Mr. Maeker served as a major in the United States Army and as commander of Treadway Bridge Company. He received the Bronze Star in the World War II European Theater and the French Croix de Guerre in the European Theater.

Mr. Maeker was partner with three architects at different times from 1953 to 1985 engaged in the practice of architectural and engineering design. Since 1985, he has been a consultant for construction for Buckner Baptist Benevolencies and United Supermarkets. Major design projects during his practice include the Lubbock County jail; City Hall, 9th and Texas, Lubbock; Buckner Baptist Facilities in Dallas, Lubbock and Burnet; First Federal Plaza, Lubbock; Furrs Cafeterias in several cities; Rix Funeral Home, Lubbock; Salvation Army Facilities, Lubbock and several civic facilities in West Texas. In his role as Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman for the City of Lubbock, Mr. Maeker was a major driving force in recovery efforts after the 1970 Lubbock tornado, He was commissioned to write the program for the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center and engaged the assistance of Bob Messersmith for this project.

In addition to his busy private life, Maeker is active in many organizations and in the Lubbock community. He is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, and the Professional Engineers in Private Practice. He is a past president of the South Plains Chapter of TSPE, the Lubbock Chapter of the Construction Specifications Institute, and the Lubbock Knife and Fork Club. Mr. Maeker also is a past chairman of the City Planning and Zoning Commission, the City-County Health Board, the Mental Health/Retardation Trustees, and the Electrical Board of the City of Lubbock, He also served as Chairman of the Deacon Body and the Missions Committee of First Baptist Church as well as of the Board of Trustees of Baptist Memorial Geriatric Center.

Currently, Mr. Maeker is a member of the President’s Council of Texas Tech University. He is a member of the West Texas Museum Association and Ranching Heritage Association. He serves as a trustee for Wayland Baptist University. In addition, Mr. Maeker is a member of the Lubbock Club, the Texas Tech Century Club, the Texas Tech Ex–Students Association, and Pi Kappa Alpha. He also belongs to the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, the Lubbock Heritage Society, and the Lubbock Rotary Club.

Among the honors he has received are Engineer of the Year in 1971 from the South Plains Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and the Prestressed Concrete Award. He also received special recognition for Stuctural Design of City Hall, Lubbock.

Maeker married Reuby Tom Rhodes, who received her B.S. and M.S. from Texas Tech, in 1948. They have a foster son, Harvey Harris, and three granddaughters.

It is an honor and a pleasure for Texas Tech to recognize Arnold Maeker as DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER.

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