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Surveyor of the Year
PLSO’s 2007 Surveyor of theYear
Edward B. Graham
Ed
Graham grew up in Southern Oregon, graduating from Medford High School with
multiple scholarships to attend what was then Southern Oregon College, now
Southern Oregon University. Shortly after Ed's first year at SOC, however, he
left the school to find work due to a lack of finances. Ed found work building
houses and often found himself knee-deep in mud, measuring lengths of piping for
the agriculture contractor. He decided then that he would rather be the man at
ground level in the white collar shirt, than the man in the hole, covered in
mud.
Ed set his sights on engineering: specifically on land surveying and passed his
fundamentals exam in 1965. He began working at the Hoffbur Firm shortly after
where he was encouraged to get involved with PLSO. In 1969 Ed took a job as the
Administrative Assistant to the Public Works Director for the surveying
department in Southern Oregon. By 1974 he had received his surveyor's license
and went to work for Jackson County as the Deputy County Surveyor. It was in
this position that he enjoyed time surveying on Mt. Hood and other classic
Oregonian hide-outs.
In 1978 Ed moved his family to Salem where he opened a branch office for Waker
Engineering where he worked until 1982 when he went to work for Marion County as
the purchasing and permit agent.
The next year marked a milestone for Ed when he was offered the position of the
Executive Secretary for the State Board-a position which had previously only
been filled by an engineer. Ed was the first surveyor to hold this position and
he saw many improvements in Engineer/Surveyor relations while he was on the job.
His holding this position was revolutionary for the profession of land surveying
and the state's understanding of the profession as a whole.
Ed held his position as Executive Secretary for the State Board until he retired
in 2003 to aid PLSO's previous Executive Secretary and eventually take over that
role which he serves in today. During his years as a PLSO member Ed also served
in several other capacities, including the Rogue River chapter president, a
Willamette chapter officer, and as a member of several committees.
"PLSO has definitely been a high-point in my career," Ed stated. "It's the best
of the best. Full of conscientious, hard-working people who want to do the best
for their clients."
Ed lives in Salem with his wife, Sheryl where he enjoys kayaking and other
outdoor activities with his 12-year-old granddaughter, Sarah. Ed and Sheryl have
two adult children, Jeff and Julie.
Past Surveyors of theYear
| 1976
Stephen H. Ford 1977 George J. Cook 1978 Floyd J. Vandervelden 1979 Cecil A. Navin 1980 Malon L. Waldron 1981 Tom O. McCullough & Bert Mason Jr. Albert C. White |
1994
Paula L. Norness 1995 Colin H. Handforth & G. Robert Taylor |
