THE LEGACY OF HOUSTON’S 2024 ENGINEER OF THE YEAR

Every February, Houston Engineers Week draws awareness to many of the unsung heroes of our great city, including those responsible for its remarkable infrastructure. This year, the annual gala will honor 2024’s Engineer of the Year, Melvin Spinks, who couldn’t be more deserving of the top honors following a career of civil service.

From Humble Beginnings: The Road to Success

Growing up in Victoria, Texas, Melvin Spinks says going to college wasn’t always the normal path to take. Luckily, Melvin had engineering inspiration from a young age, tagging along to oil and gas job sites with his stepfather. During his senior year of high school, he enrolled in a summer engineering graphics class, which opened the door to a part-time job in engineering. This was when he first fell in love with the profession.

Melvin went on to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in the Civil Engineering program at Texas A&M and then earned a Master of Science in Civil Engineering specializing in water resources engineering. Following graduation, Melvin embarked on a career with Wilbur Smith Associates on February 16, 1987. He knew all along his goal was to start his own engineering firm, but first he made the choice to join a national engineering firm to better understand the industry. While working at Wilbur Smith – now CDMSmith – Melvin gained valuable experience working on various projects all over the nation.

“I was tasked to work on large scale drainage studies with the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma and flood design projects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Tulsa District,” Melvin says. “It was an incredible experience as stormwater management programs in the U.S. were first being introduced by communities to address urban flooding.”

Giving His All for Another 27 Years

On February 17, 1997, Melvin resigned. “With a dream to start a company, I just went for it,” he recalls. “Given what I know today, it was probably crazy, but when you set a goal, you just go in that direction.”

While starting his own consulting firm, CivilTech, Melvin continued to practice engineering throughout the U.S. and internationally, thanks in part to a personal endorsement from Art Storey, the Director of Harris County Infrastructure from 1998 to 2015. Storey offered sage advice as well as a handwritten letter stating what a high level of confidence he had in Melvin’s work as an engineer.

With Houston being such an international city housing talent and businesses from all over the world, Melvin had the privilege to work with international firms and developers from Mexico, Spain, The Middle East, and Germany on major transportation and infrastructure projects. Along the way, he picked up new engineering practices and built countless relationships.

“The most satisfying aspect as a Professional Engineer practicing in the Greater Houston area has been the opportunities to work with such remarkable and knowledgeable people and agencies that make Houston and Harris County a great place to live, work, and play.”

Throughout his 36 years of service, Melvin executed, managed, and directed over 400 engineering projects, primarily related to water resources and flood management. The many innovative contributions Melvin implemented in the area’s drainage and flood programs have made Houston significantly better prepared for hurricanes and other major storms.

Memorable Engineering Projects

One of the most memorable projects Melvin was part of followed the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana in 2005. Selected as one of ten engineering experts to testify on a civil litigation matter in federal court, Melvin had to review thousands of eyewitness accounts, 911 calls, and photographs to help recreate a timeline of the flooding in the Lower Ninth Ward, where it’s estimated at least 1,200 people lost their lives. “From a career standpoint, it was probably one of my most challenging assignments,” says Melvin.

“Hurricane Katrina really changed our nation,” Spinks recalls. “The destruction in the Lower Ninth Ward was unimaginable and people’s terrifying stories were so gut-wrenching through the devastation to their homes and safety. From a career standpoint, it was probably one of my most challenging assignments.”

The drainage planning for the TxDOT North Houston Highway Improvement Project was another notable project for Melvin, primarily due to its size, complexity, and importance to the transportation and mobility for the Houston area.

There are numerous other projects Melvin was responsible for – including federal flood damage reduction projects along Brays Bayou and White Oak Bayou. Despite his impressive resume, Melvin isn’t big on taking credit for his work. “As a leader, build other professionals and give credit to them all the time,” he recommends to fellow engineers. “My advice is to learn and teach yourself every day. Your career doesn’t stop at 5 p.m. and on weekends.”

Entering the Next Phase of Life

In addition to his remarkable project experience, Melvin has continuously served the engineering profession through leadership in many professional and technical organizations. Melvin served as ASCE Houston Branch President, ASCE Texas Vice President Professional, ACEC Houston Chapter President, and currently serves on the ACEC Texas Board of Directors. He served on the Harris County Flood Control District Task Force, the Bayou Preservation Association, and many other professional organizations.

Recently retired, when asked about what an award like Engineer of the Year means to him, Melvin is his usual heartfelt self, confident but humble, wise yet also a bit curious. “I hope it inspires others,” he answers. “That anybody can achieve something that makes a difference. I’ve done my soul-searching to understand, ‘Why me?’ I’m so impressed with my peers, that they see me as a great engineer. Everybody has an opportunity in Houston and this country to achieve some level of great satisfaction. I promise you, anybody can do it.”

If that’s accurate, and everybody truly is capable of reaching such an acclaimed status in their career, the fact remains that not everybody has. And that’s exactly what makes Melvin Spinks such a one-of-a-kind engineer, and this year’s recipient of Houston Engineers Week Engineer of the Year.

What Houston Engineers Week Is All About

As a non-profit run by volunteers, Houston Engineers Week was founded to recognize what an important and instrumental occupation engineering can be. Among their core objectives is to keep supporting the educational efforts of engineers via recognition, scholarships, and scholastic competition. Houston Engineers

Week acknowledges accomplished and young engineers and helps create a stronger appreciation for the engineering efforts that have helped make Houston such a great city.