W. R. HUTCHINS, STATE HIGHWAY ENGINEER.

The elevation of Mr. Hutchins from the post of district engineer to state highway engineer was fitting reward for proven ability and long years of faithful service to the state by a man who typifies the highest ideals of the engineering profession. Under W. R. Hutchins the Arizona Highway Department is in for renewed progress and development and greater service to the citizens of the state.

W.R.dutchins STATE HIGHWAY ENGINEER

THE promotion of W. R. Hutchins to the important post of state highway engineer by the Arizona highway commission following reorganization in February was a tribute to merit and ability. The action of the commission was recognition of years of successful engineering service to the state, years of faithful service during the formative development of the Arizona highway system from modest beginnings to the system of hard surfaced highways today that ranks with the best in the Nation. As district engineer since the early '20's, W. R. Hutchins figured in the growth of the highway system and performed his part in an estimable and meritorious manner.

The selection of Mr. Hutchins as state highway engineer met with great favor throughout the state. That is important. He becomes head man of the highway department with the full support of the citizens of the state, whose interests he has served so well for so many years. Again, his selection was received with great satisfaction by the personnel of the highway department. That, too, is important. The men you work with week in and week out, year in and year out, are perhaps the best judges of a man's ability. W. R. Hutchins' appointment received the unanimous approval of the men he has worked with. He has the support and the loyalty and the cooperation of every person in the department and that means teamwork and a successful administration. The boss is "okay."

Mr. Hutchins was born in Athens, Ga., Nov. 16, 1886, of a family prominent in educational circles in the south. The family background bristles with important names on both his mother's and father's sides of the family, and he grew up in an atmosphere of learning and scholarship.

As a youth he attended the public schools of Athens, and then attended the University of Georgia, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1908. Equipped with sound engineering training, he sought experience and he lost no time getting to a place where things were happening in engineering lines Clifton, Arizona. He arrived there shortly after his graduation, and went NORMAN G. WALLACE. The Nogales-Patagonia road leads through interesting country. This is a recent view of a part of that road.

department until 1924 when he was made engineer for the Arizona Land department. In 1925 he returned to the highway department, becoming district engineer for the northern district of the state. He served in northern Arizona until 1929, when he was named office engineer for the department.

When W. W. Lane resigned as state engineer May 1, 1931, and was succeeded The Douglas underpass on Highway 80 was an important accomplishment in Mr. by the late T. S. O'Connell, Mr. Hutchins NORMAN G. WALLACE. Hutchins' district, where he served as district engineer. to work for the Arizona Copper company and later the Arizona and New Mexico railroad company, serving in various en-gineering capacities.

He remained in Clifton with these firms until 1914, when he entered the construction and engineering business, operating in several sections of the state. A portion of this period was spent in construction work on the Coronado Trail. His reputation spreading beyond the borders of the state, Mr. Hutchins ac-cepted an offer in 1920 to supervise road building in the Ranger oil fields in Texas for the Eastland county highway com-mission. He remained in Texas for one year, and returned to the general con-struction and engineering business in Arizona. In 1922 he was appointed county engineer for Graham county, which posi tion he held for about a year.

During the early part of 1923, he was made district engineer for the Arizona highway department, remaining with the was named to fill Mr. O'Connell's post as district engineer for the southern district. He held that position until February of this year, when he was appointed state highway engineer.

That very briefly highlights the engineering career of the new state engineer. The sketch, however, reveals in bold outline the extent of background and experience which Mr. Hutchins takes to his new position.

He first of all knows Arizona. Spending his adult life in this state, and during (Turn to Page 23) NORMAN G. WALLACE. This is the Sixth Avenue portion of Highway 80 and 89 in Tucson. This road was planned to not only handle heavy transcontinental traffic, but also traffic of metropolitan Tucson.

APRIL, 1939

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