Celebrating the Life of Walter P. Moore, Jr.

It's been a long hot summer and I have attended many events, conferences and meetings that could provide topics for this month's letter. One stands out among these experiences as uniquely meaningful.

On June 24, 1998, I attended a service at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, celebrating the life of Walter P. Moore, Jr. Dr. Moore never regained consciousness from injuries suffered in an automobile accident on April 4.

Beautiful words of tribute recalling the experiences and characteristics that made him special to so many were given by his son, daughter and brother. The church was filled to overflowing with those seeking to offer their respect. Folding chairs were brought in to allow additional seating and many were left standing inside and outside the sanctuary during the service.

The number of those attending this tribute to the life and career of Dr. Moore was notable, but one could not help but notice the marvelous variety of people touched during the 45 years he practiced his chosen profession as a consulting engineer, teacher and mentor. Joining his family were friends, colleagues, employees, partners, clients, public officials, competitors, contractors, students and faculty.

Among his numerous honors and contributions was his current service at Texas A&M. While teaching both engineering and architecture, he held the Thomas A. Bullock endowed chair and served as director of the Center for Building Design & Construction and the Center for Construction Education.

I talked to others in attendance that day and many left reevaluating and/or reconfirming how we practice our chosen professions. That may be one of the fortunate results of such a tragic event.

Walter P. Moore, Jr. leaves a legacy and example that is both inspiring and thought provoking. We are blessed to work in an industry that presents challenges requiring many disciplines to successfully work together in search of a creative interdependent solution. Because of the complexity of our challenges, the number of people we directly touch can be immense and the number indirectly touched can be beyond our ability to calculate. Every day offers us opportunities to make a difference. Not only through the quality and value of services provided, but also through the character of each professional encounter along the way.

Houston was fortunate to have Walter P. Moore, Jr. among its citizen leaders. Our design and construction community is even more fortunate to have his legacy and example to follow in the years to come.

Ken Ross, AIA