Richard Russell “Dick” Phelps died November 25, 2008. Mr. Phelps was born January 21, 1931 in Evansville, Indiana, to Russell Richard and Mildred Rice Phelps. He was reared in Beaumont, Texas where he lived for thirty-four years. A graduate of Beaumont High School, he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Husbandry from Texas A&M University, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Lamar University, and an M.E. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he was chosen to receive a Federal Traineeship to do graduate work.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his step-mother. He is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Margaret; two daughters, Linda Phelps and Laura Archer and husband, Douglas; three grandchildren, Katherine, Christina, and Will Archer; brother, James S. Phelps; sister, Ann Phelps Bednarke; nephews, Thomas C. Mays and James S. Phelps, Jr.; and nieces, Robin Rackley and Mary Ellen Glanz.
Mr. Phelps, a Civil Engineer and Public Land Surveyor, had an interesting career as he worked first for consultants, Pitts, Mebane, & Phelps Architects and Engineers in Beaumont, and for Henningson, Durham & Richardson in Dallas, Texas, and then taught Engineering Technology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for seven years and at the University of Houston, Central Campus for eleven years. He served as Department Chairman at both universities. In 1989, he was appointed to the Blucher Chair at Texas A&M at Corpus Christi where he was responsible for the installation of a tide gauge system and research project along the Texas Gulf Coast. Upon completion of the installation, Mr. Phelps retired from Texas A&M in 1992.
During his 32 year career, Mr. Phelps was active in the National Society of Professional Engineers, North Carolina Society of Professional Engineers, Texas Society of Professional Engineers and local chapters in Lubbock, Dallas, Houston, Corpus Christi and Victoria, Texas and in Charlotte, North Carolina, having served as president, director and various other officers. He was a Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and active in the state and local chapters where he resided. For many years he served this organization on the ABET Committee for accreditation of engineering technology colleges. In addition to construction he taught surveying at University of Houston and was a Life Member of the Texas Society of Public Land Surveyors and served on the Board of Directors of the state society. In 1995, he received the Hugh L. George Award, which is presented for outstanding service to a retired surveyor.
Mr. Phelps served 4 years in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Pursuit, a surveying ship, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Lieutenant.
Since retiring Mr. Phelps resided in Victoria where he was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the Come One, Come All Sunday School Class and served as an usher for several years.
Mr. Phelps enjoyed ranching at WDS Ranch near Fannin and was a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Society of Range Management, Life Member of Goliad County Wildlife Coop and Victoria County A&M Club. He embraced land stewardship, and under his care WDS Ranch received the Outstanding Lone Star Land Steward Award presented by Texas Parks and Wildlife, the Wildlife Society Land Stewardship Award for Excellence in Wildlife Conservation, and the South Texas Ranching Heritage Award. Other interests included traveling, ham radio, bird watching, genealogy and Texas History.
The family extends special thanks to Dr. Larry Riedel and Dr. Bruce Bauknight and his longtime caregivers, Corina Nix, Loyola Galvan, Misty Johnson, Emma King, Dennis Lacerda and Isabel Perez.
Graveside service will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday November 26, 2008, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials are made to First United Methodist Church of Victoria, 407 North Bridge St., Victoria, TX 77901-65165 or Goliad EMS, 338 W. End Street, Goliad, TX 77963.
Complete and updated information may be viewed at www.broussardsmortuary.com
