Texas Tech University

Distinguished Engineer Citations

                 
Distinguished Engineer Photo: Jerry L. Morgensen
Jerry L. Morgensen

Jerry L. Morgensen

Distinguished Engineer

2006

Degree

Civil Engineering – 1965

 

Citation

At Time of Nomination in 2006

Jerry Morgensen was born in Lubbock, Texas and raised in Brownfield, Texas before returning to Lubbock where he attended Texas Tech University and received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1965.

Jerry is proud of the fact he was the first member of his family to graduate from college. He began his professional career with E.I. DuPont Construction Division as a Field Engineer and rose through the ranks to Division Engineer.

Jerry Morgensen is currently the Chairman and CEO of Hensel Phelps Construction Co., the 18th largest general contractor in the nation and the largest Colorado–based general contractor. Jerry is responsible for the continued leadership and planning for corporate growth and development. He has been employed by Hensel Phelps Construction Co. since 1973. His initial responsibilities at Hensel Phelps included Project Manager until 1978 when he became Operations Manager responsible for the management of numerous projects. Jerry was elected Vice President in June 1980, became President in June 1985, CEO in 1989, and the first Chairman in 2005.

Under Jerry’s leadership, the company has grown from $550 million in annual construction to over $2 billion.

Jerry is active in many organizations and is a member of the Construction Industry Round Table; the Construction Industry Development Council for Colorado State University; Cache Bank of Greeley Board of Directors; Civil Engineer Academy of Texas Tech University; University of Northern Colorado’s Board of Trustees; and the Downtown Denver Partnership Board. Jerry also served as president of the Colorado Associated General Contractors in 1990.

Jerry’s professional recognitions include the 1992 Weld County Leader, 1997 Colorado Business Magazine’s Business Leader of the Year Award, the Bravo! Entrepreneur Award 2001 from the Northern Colorado Business Report, and the Air Force Association’s John R. Alison Award for Industrial Leadership Post September 11, Repair of the Pentagon to meet the Department of Defense One–year Operational Goal.

While at Tech, Jerry met his wife Linda, also a Texas Tech alumnus. Jerry and Linda live in Greeley, Colorado and return to Texas on a regular basis to visit family and friends at Horseshoe Bay. They have two married daughters, Angela and Nichole and are the very proud grandparents to five grandsons: Carter, Graham, Samuel, Andrew and Ryan who range in ages from 6 years to one month.

It is a privilege and a pleasure for Texas Tech University’s College of Engineering to select this outstanding alumnus for honor and recognition.

Jerry L. Morgensen is declared to be a DISTINGUISHED ENGINEER.

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