Edward L. “Ed” Robinson '69
The inaugural Presidential Awardee is Edward L. “Ed” Robinson. Robinson, a Putnam County native, earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from WVU Tech in 1969. After ten years of working for the West Virginia Division of Highways, he founded E.L. Robinson Engineering (ELR) with three other employees in 1978. Robinson obtained a master’s degree in civil engineering in 1981 from West Virginia University and was awarded an honorary Doctorate from WVU Tech in 2002.
Under Robinson’s leadership, ELR has grown into a highly diversified engineering and surveying firm with hundreds of full-time employees and support personnel with offices in six states. Their corporate office is still in Cross Lanes, where he began the business. A small surveying firm at its inception, ELR now offers a complete range of services, including construction management, transportation, utility, geotechnical, bridge and structural engineering, surveying, land planning, landscape architecture and site development.
Robinson is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), where he’s served in state and national leadership roles. He was named Engineer of the Year for ASCE (1998) and the WVSPE (1997). He received the Tech Alumni of the Year Award for the Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering in 1992. He was recently recognized with a Distinguished West Virginian Award by WV Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston on behalf of Governor Jim Justice.
After 45 years at the helm of his business, Robinson retired in 2023 and now enjoys his time at home in Lewisburg with his wife April, golfing and working with their horses. He also has two daughters.
Under Robinson’s leadership, ELR has grown into a highly diversified engineering and surveying firm with hundreds of full-time employees and support personnel with offices in six states. Their corporate office is still in Cross Lanes, where he began the business. A small surveying firm at its inception, ELR now offers a complete range of services, including construction management, transportation, utility, geotechnical, bridge and structural engineering, surveying, land planning, landscape architecture and site development.
Robinson is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), where he’s served in state and national leadership roles. He was named Engineer of the Year for ASCE (1998) and the WVSPE (1997). He received the Tech Alumni of the Year Award for the Leonard C. Nelson College of Engineering in 1992. He was recently recognized with a Distinguished West Virginian Award by WV Transportation Secretary Jimmy Wriston on behalf of Governor Jim Justice.
After 45 years at the helm of his business, Robinson retired in 2023 and now enjoys his time at home in Lewisburg with his wife April, golfing and working with their horses. He also has two daughters.