CH2M Hill Jim Howland

Jim Howland, the final surviving founder of CH2M Hill Cos., the Denver-based engineering firm that has become a global powerhouse, died Aug. 28 at his home in Corvallis, Ore. He was 92.

Howland joined his former Oregon State College (now Oregon State University/OSU) civil engineering professor Fred Merryfield, along with fellow graduates Burke Hayes and Holy Cornell, in 1946 to form their own engineering firm. From a humble start in a tiny second-floor office in Corvallis, it has grown to one of the world's largest construction industry companies with operations in 130 countries, more than 25,000 employees worldwide and $6 billion in gross revenue.

Howland is credited with developing CH2M Hill's legendary "Little Yellow Book," which the company credits for instilling the firm's strong culture of ethical behavior and is provided to all of the firm's new employees and subcontractors in English and several other languages. He retired as company CEO in 1972, and as chairman, in 1977 "but he remained an active advocate his entire life," says Ralph R. Peterson, who now holds both positions. One CH2M Hill source says he was involved in company-related activities until three weeks before his death.

Multimedia: Audio: Peterson audio eulogy

"When it no longer became possible for Jim to make the trip into the [Corvallis] office, he continued to work from his home, logging on from his home PC and responding to e-mails, and signing the countless requests he received for personally autographed copies of the Little Yellow Book," says Peterson. "His thousands of personal connections with people across the firm and among our clients and within our communities enriched the lives of all who knew him because he truly inspired the very best in all of us. Jim was a remarkable human being who deserves to be remembered by his many friends in ENR's readership."

Howland began his professional career in 1939 working for Standard Oil Co. in California. During World War II, he was deployed to the Pacific island of Saipan with an Army engineering unit where he was in charge of the planning effort to build military infrastructure, including hospitals, airfields and water systems. He received the Legion of Merit for his service in the Pacific Theater.

CH2M Hill CH2M Hill founders, in 1970 photo, from left: Burke Hayes, Jim Howland, Holly Cornell (standing), Fred Merryfield.

Following the war, the founders named their new firm based on the order of their chronological return from service. In 1971, the company merged with a California firm headed by yet another OSU alumnus, Clair A. Hill, and adopted the current moniker.

Howland served as general manager for two decades and as president for eight years before becoming CEO and chairman.

Fellow founder Burke Hayes, who passed away last December, credited Howland's managerial experience as key to the success of the company. "Jim wanted to be an engineer, but he knew we had to have a manager, so he managed," Hayes said in a 1984 oral history of the firm. "There are many contributions that everyone made, but the most important one Jim made was the one of management."

Howlamd penned his "Little Yellow Book" in 1978 to outline the company's guiding principles in a clear and concise manner. It has since became the company's cultural anchor, providing brief messages on people, organization, ethics and communication. Quotations from the book are featured in plaques at Howland Plaza along the banks of the Willamette River in Corvallis.

After retirement from full-time work in 1982, Howland was appointed by Oregon Gov. Victor G. Atiyeh to the state Water Resources Board, where he served from 1986 to 1994. Howland also continued to work with CH2M Hill when it partnered with the National League of Cities to fund an award program for municipal enrichment.

"With Jimıs passing we enter new territory as a firm.," says Peterson. "Much like that moment in life many of us have faced with the passing of our parents, we now move forward on our own, secure in knowing that the lessons and personal integrity that Jim and his partners instilled in all of us will see us through. At the same time, we will miss him being a part of our lives, sharing in our success and providing a shoulder to lean on during those occasions where we come up short."

A memorial service for Howland will be held at Corvallis First Presbyterian Church on Sept. 9 at 1:30PM, with a reception at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center at OSU, beginning at 3 PM.

CH2M Hill has set up a memorial website for Howland at www.jimhowland.net.