ASPE founder Donald Dickerson was a legend in the plumbing engineering community.
My mentor, colleague and friend Donald F. Dickerson passed away on March 24. This was a sad day for the plumbing engineering community.
Don started the American Society of Plumbing Engineers in 1964. He was a young engineer who saw the need for an association dedicated to the advancement of plumbing engineering. He was a visionary who saw the need for an organization that is flourishing today.
Don was the first president of ASPE. In many ways, he remained ASPE president emeritus. That is how involved Don stayed with the society. He was there to help every other ASPE president and board member who followed him. It was not uncommon to receive a phone call any time of the day with the first question being, “What are you doing with my society?” That was his way of asking for an update.
A man is often judged by his accomplishments. Don has many. His are just too long to list. Basically, Don was involved in every part of his profession. He was also involved in his community. He was a great patriot and veteran who loved his country.
Personal accomplishments are one thing. But I believe the true judge of a person is what they leave behind. Don leaves a huge number of individuals that he mentored, including his own children. Don’s daughter, April Trafton, is the president of Donald F. Dickerson and Associates, the firm Don started in 1961. His son, Richard, is the current president of the Los Angeles Chapter of ASPE. Other young plumbing engineers were also his children. I fall into that category.