Montana State alumnus Bob Morrison to be inducted into the Montana Professional Engineers Hall of Fame

BOZEMAN - Bob Morrison, who holds two degrees from Montana State University's engineering college, will be inducted into the Montana Professional Engineers Hall of Fame on Nov. 5.

MSU's Norm Asbjornson College of Engineering houses the hall of fame, which was founded in 2002 to recognize engineers who have made outstanding contributions to the profession and public welfare of Montana.

Morrison earned a bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1977 and a master's degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in environmental engineering in 1978. A lifelong Bobcat, Morrison has served as an adviser to the school's Department of Civil Engineering and served on MSU's Alumni Foundation Board of Governors.

"The name Morrison is iconic in Montana consulting engineering lore," said Brett Gunnink, dean of the engineering college. "Bob will become the third Morrison to be inducted into the MPE Hall of Fame. I think that this speaks to the level of respect that Bob has earned as he has been able to build on the achievements of his grandfather and father and make his own very worthy contributions. I think this is quite extraordinary and likely never to be repeated."

Known for his expertise in process design for water and wastewater treatment, pumping stations, pipeline and sludge-handling facilities, Morrison worked for 43 years throughout the western U.S. He also worked closely with Tribal communities. He oversaw a 40-year effort to bring clean drinking water to the Oglala Sioux Reservation in southwestern South Dakota through the Mni Wiconi Rural Water System, which serves 50,000 people over 12,500 square miles. It is the most extensive rural water system in the country.

Notably, Morrison served from 2006 to 2017 as president and CEO of Morrison-Maierle, an engineering and consulting firm with offices throughout Montana, Washington, Oregon, and Wyoming that is 100% employee-owned. He also held leadership positions at the Helena YMCA, the Helena Chamber of Commerce, the Montana Community Finance Corp. and the Montana American Council of Engineering Companies Board.

Morrison has been honored many times throughout his career, including as recipient of the George Warren Fuller Award from the American Water Works Association's Montana Section, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Montana Water Environment Association-Montana Section of the AWWA, MSU College of Engineering Alumni Achievement Award and induction into MSU's Academy of Distinguished Alumni, the Helena Business Person of the Year award and the Engineering News-Record's Legacy Award winner for the Intermountain area. He is the first recipient from Montana for the latter.

Throughout his career, Morrison remained active in several professional organizations and honor societies, including the American Water Works Association, the Water Environment Federation, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Council of Engineering Companies, the Phi Kappa Phi honor society and the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society.