TSPS NOV. FINAL - Flipbook - Page 21
FEATURED MEMBER
What do you gain or hope to gain from TSPS?
There are many upsides of being a member of the Society, but the biggest single benefit is the
interaction with other surveyors across the state. Not only do you make friends with your
colleagues, many of whom you would never have met outside of the Society, you also learn from
them in so many ways! Interesting new projects that you might not have heard of, what’s hot and
what’s not in terms of economic survey market conditions, TxDOT current affairs and conditions,
and so much more. Those surveyors who are not in the Society are working in a vacuum and are
simply missing out on what is happening around the state, the latest technology, and local inside
information. They are not doing themselves or their clients any favors. When I survey outside of
my 5 county area, I do not hesitate to reach out to one of my TSPS friends in the area I am
concerned with. Local survey knowledge is incredibly important. I met Robby Christopher (RPLS
5167, Past TSPS President) out of Lubbock many years ago through TSPS. Not only have I
benefited greatly from his friendship and professional advice, but we have spent many hours
making guitar music together at various TSPS events. What’s not to like!
Favorites:
Color: hmmmm…I like them all!
Musicians: The Allman Brothers Band
Food: Tex-Mex, of course!
Animal: Dogs! Truly man’s best friend
Hobby: I collect and play vintage
guitars and mandolins. I’m a Gibson
guy!
John Austin survey crew February 2008: Ramiro Compean, Jack Chiles,
Mike Hoover, Scott Crain, Billy Wolfram, Bill Merten
What is your most memorable surveying moment?
I have too many to list, but any time I find an original survey corner (or perpetuation thereof) it
gives me great satisfaction! One such event was finding the original documented perpetuated
location of the John Austin Survey (Abstract 1, Harris County, 1824 Spanish Grant, 8856.8 acres)
situated just easterly of the Central Business District near downtown Houston. Jack Chiles (RPLS
4778), a close friend of mine, was the City of Houston Surveyor for many years and happened to
run across some Houston City Engineering Department field notes from February of 1914
describing the reset of a Bois d’Arc stake with a concrete monument marking the original corner
location of the Austin survey. The notes were beautiful (picture attached), with lots of ties. Jack
assembled a crew (picture attached) in early 2008 and with minimal effort we found the remains
of the original 1914 concrete monument, just as the notes described. Memorable moment? You
bet!
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