Richard E. Klingner named TMS Honorary Member

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UPDATED: 2018-10-12Richard E. Klingner

The Masonry Society named Dr. Richard E. Klingner as an Honorary Member for his numerous contributions related to masonry research, codes, and standards. Dr. Klingner served as a faculty member in the Department of Structural Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin for over 30 years, where he taught undergraduate and graduate classes on structural analysis, dynamics, and behavior, including the design of masonry and reinforced concrete structures. He conducted significant research, and authored or co-authored more than 90 refereed journal articles, 40 books or book chapters, and 350 other technical publications. He participated in and led many masonry research programs, including investigations of the seismic behavior of new masonry and masonry veneer, and of autoclaved aerated concrete masonry.

Within TMS, Dr. Klingner’s contributions were significant, and he served in many leadership roles including Chair of TMS 402/602, the Technical Activities Committee, the Research Committee, and the Investigating Disasters Program, and many other Committees, Subcommittees and Task Group. He served the Society as Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Team Leader on the 1994 Northridge California Earthquake Investigation, Chair of the 8th North American Masonry Conference, and Leader of the Masonry in the Americas Workshop. He was a primary author of the Masonry Designer’s Guide, contributed presentations on TMS 402/602, and served the Society and the technical community in many ways. He was instrumental in working with the American Concrete Institute and the American Society of Civil Engineers to encourage sole sponsorship of the masonry code by The Masonry Society, and led efforts to transfer the work of ACI Committee 531 on Masonry Research to TMS. Outside of TMS, his accomplishments were equally impressive at ACI, ASTM International, the Building Seismic Safety Council, and many other organizations and forums.

For these and other accomplishments, he received many honors and awards, including within TMS the John B. Scalzi Research Award (1999) and the President’s Award (2000). In 2005 he was named as a Fellow of The Masonry Society. In addition, both Dr. Klingner, and many of his students received Outstanding Paper Awards for both TMS Journal and NAMC Papers, and several of his students have received other TMS Awards including Outstanding Dissertation Awards.

The Masonry Society formally recognized Dr. Klingner at its Annual Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio on October 4. 2018. Unfortunately, due to a prior committment, Dr./ Klingner was unable to attend the ceremony. At his request, TMS Executive Director accepted the award on Dr. Klingner’s behalf, reading a letter from him (Click here to view Klingner Letter).

Honorary Membership is the highest honor that TMS can bestow on a Member, and the individual must receive unanimous approval by the Board of Directors. The designation of Honorary Membership recognizes individuals who have attained acknowledged eminence related to masonry research, design, or construction. Dr. Klingner is only the 17th Honorary Member of The Masonry Society.