Gary A. Parks, honored for his roles as a past ASCE Oregon Section president and for his 41 years of work for the Bonneville Power Administration, has died at 73.
A Life Member, Parks, P.E., F.ASCE, joined the Society in 1966, the year he began working for the federal administration that oversees distribution of electricity generated by the Bonneville Dam. He retired as its Redmond regional manager in 2007. After departing Bonneville, he served as a compliance consultant for the Western Electricity Coordinating Council.
In his prime, Parks was active in several Pacific Northwest-area ASCE committees, and served as section president in 1977-78. He was local chair of ASCE’s 1980 National Meeting in Portland. The Section named him its engineer of the year in 1992, and the first recipient of its government engineer of the year award in 1995.
Fellow professionals respected and admired Parks. “The best part of my job is the people,” he once said.
“He was a good friend, colleague, and classmate,” said Arlen Rippe, P.E., who served on the Pacific Northwest Council Board when Parks was its chair.
“Through the years, we worked together on many ASCE activities. I shall miss his wit and wisdom.”
Parks’ passion for the region extended to his participation in the Portland Jaycees, Portland Industrial Rotary Club, Albertina Kerr Golf Tournament, and the Redmond Parks Committee.
