Honoring Ed McDougle

Edwin A. McDougle, retired principal and president of Ross Bryan Associates, Inc., passed away on January 23, 2019. Ed joined the Ross Bryan family in 1967 as an engineering co-op student at the University of Tennessee and began a full-time position in 1972 after completing his MS degree. Ed became a principal owner of RBA in 1977 and retired as president in 2011. Ed influenced countless young engineers, mentoring and teaching technical, business and leadership skills. His leadership acknowledged the importance of the employees who contributed to the success of RBA and their families. For many years, he and his wife Carla hosted the annual “RBA Summer Hummer” to bring the RBA families together in community.

Ed was a registered Professional Engineer in 20 states and noted expert in Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC). Ed contributed his knowledge and expertise in GFRC and Quality Management Systems to the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) through many years of committee work, teaching training classes, and editing numerous PCI training and technical documents.

Notable design projects include:

  • Brentwood United Methodist Church
  • More than 200 buildings clad in precast and GFRC, 1985-2010
  • The Hartford Insurance Company Data Center in Hartford, CT
  • Knoxville Convention Center
  • Maryville Arts Center
  • Clayton Center for the Arts – Maryville College
  • Shepard Hall – City College, NY, NY (GFRC)
  • UT Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy
  • UT James A. Haslam II Business Building
  • UT Memorial Research Center and Hospital Addition
  • UT John C. Hodges Library
  • UT Neyland Stadium, University of TN, Knoxville, including master-planning and several renovation and upgrade projects.

Awards and service:

  • Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers, Nashville Chapter Outstanding Engineer of the Year 2013
  • Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers, State of Tennessee Outstanding Engineer of the Year 2013
  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville College of Engineering Board of Advisors President, 2011-2012
  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville Department of Civil Engineering Outstanding Alumnus, 1999
  • University of Tennessee at Knoxville Alumni Service Award, 2016
  • Designated a Fellow and Titan of the Prestressed/Precast Concrete Institute
  • ASCE Life Member
  • American Council of Engineering Companies of Tennessee -Engineering Excellence Awards Committee Chair 1995-1997
  • Member and teacher, Brentwood United Methodist Church, since 1977

Ed McDougle