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WEDA's Hall of FameDredger of the Year - 2007 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Past Dredgers of the Year | Lifetime Achievement Award Archive |
2007 DREDGER OF THE YEARTHE WESTERN DREDGING ASSOCIATION TAKES GREAT PLEASURE IN PRESENTING ITS ANNUAL DREDGER OF THE YEAR AWARD TO VICTOR BUHRfor his vision, dedication, leadership and his outstanding ability to develop innovative hydraulic dredging solutions that have proven to be of great benefit to dredging industry contractors and clients. Victor Buhr began his dredging career in 1978 as a leverman and fill site specialist with Rober’s Dredging Company headquartered in La Crosse, WI. Here he gained invaluable experience in dredge fill sites and environmental restoration. This first-hand experience provided him with the foundation which to draw upon during his more than 30 year dredging career. This laid the foundation for his unique understanding of hydraulic dredging projects In 1993, Victor joined the J. F. Brennan Company, where he served as a lead project superintendent. It was here that he demonstrated the full measure of his outstanding knowledge of hydraulic dredging. It was through his dedication and superior management skills that he was able to work his crews one hundred (100) consecutive days re-constructing miles of levees following the devastating 1993 Mississippi River flood. The project was completed on Christmas day. In 1995 following his promotion to the position of J. F Brennan’s Hydraulic Dredging Division Manager, Victor, continuing to demonstrate his interest in and dedication to the dredging industry worked closely with the Dredging Supply Co. and other to evaluate the newly developed large swinging ladder-dredges and the new wireless remote booster controls. By Maintaining accurate dredging record he was able to demonstrate that using these new developments resulted in greater efficiency and reduced dredging cost. As Victor’s career progressed, so did his contributions to the Western Dredging Association and the dredging industry. Although his projects were many and challenging. There is not enough space here to mention all of his accomplishments, but, some of the highlights of his illustrious career include: his ability to assimilate existing dredging and dewatering technology that provide greater value to public and private clients; his outstanding performance in construction low profile island structures that provide new fish and wildlife habitat in the upper Mississippi River; wet land restoration; and his ability to develop and apply new technologies to problematic hydraulic issues. Even more important than any of Victors technical or project achievements are his team building skills that inspire loyalty, dedication, innovation, and hard work. Victor Buhr, by his superior abilities, knowledge, determination, and dedication to his chosen profession has made significant and important contributions to not only the Western Dredging Association but to dredgers everywhere. It is therefore with great pleasure that I select him as the Western Dredging Association's. 2007 DREDGER OF THE YEARGiven under my hand this 31st day of May 2007
John F. Adams LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
THOMAS J. WETTA IIIfor his more than 30 years of outstanding and unselfish dedicated service and contributions to the Dredging Industry and the Western Dredging Association, 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award. Thomas (Tommy) John Wetta III, born July 13, 1934 was the founder and vice president of Dredging Supply Company. He graduated with a BS degree in Industrial Technology from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge Louisiana. Throughout his career, he never stopped learning. He received a Hazardous Material Handling Compliance Certificate from Jefferson Parish Advance Studies, completed Dredging Short Course Studies at Texas A & M University, Studies in Physics/Pre-engineering at the University of New Orleans, and Business Law at the University of Kansas. Tommy’s experience in the dredging industry spanning more than thirty years of diversified responsibilities began in 1963 where he served as mechanical and equipment engineer for the T. L. James and Companies where he designed dredges, boats, and dredging equipment. Additionally, he wrote the equipment specification, calculated dredge production, dredging project requirements and established the dredge and dredge equipment construction division. His unique ability to supervise an entire dredge fabrication facility including personnel management, expediting marine equipment field service, equipment repairs, cost estimating and outside equipment sales and services was the result of years of hands-on experience. As a young engineer, Tommy’s tireless energy and unselfish work habits as a deckhand, boat operator, engine room oiler, and assistant dredge superintendent for the Standard Dredging Corporation led him to establish the Dredging Supply Company, Inc. Founded in 1989, the Dredging Supply Company, Inc., under his watchful eye developed into a dominant role in the dredging manufacturing industry. Using the same hands-on philosophy that served Tommy so well during his formative years, he with the aid of his two sons, William and Robert Wetta, made significant contributions to the dredging industry and the Western Dredging Association that made them one the world's leaders in building and servicing Portable Dredges". As a testimony to Tommy Wetta’s pledge to provide satisfactory customer service and his commitment to share with Western Dredging Association members and the dredging industry, the latest trends, developments, and technology research by the Dredging Supply Company, Inc. he was awarded the United States Department of Commerce Export Achievement Award. Thomas (Tommy) John Wetta III, because of his superior abilities, knowledge, determination and dedication to his chosen profession has made unparalleled, significant and important contributions to not only the Western Dredging Association but to dredgers throughout the world. It is therefore with great pleasure that I posthumously present him with the Western Dredging Association’s 2007 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDGiven under my hand this 30th Day of May 2007
John F. Adams PAST DREDGERS OF THE YEAR
George Watts
Charles E. Settoon
Gregory L. Hartman
William F. Zenga
John B. Herbich
T. L. James Company
William R. Murden
Hannon Harrison
Frank Hazen
Craig Vogt
U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers
Thomas M. Verna
Leonard Juhnke
Thomas Wang
Ram K. Mohan
Charles "Chuck" Hummer
Robert E. Randall
Victor Buhr PAST LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Robert J. Hopman
George Watts
John B. Herbich
Thomas J. Wetta III |
