Albert Givan

In Memorial

Albert Givan Photo

CA Registered Civil Engineer (RCE 1)

Born: May 30, 1876. Died: April 1, 1961.

Albert Givan was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on May 30, 1876 and passed away on April 1, 1961 at the age of 84. He was brought up In Nevada, and attended the Rose Polytechnic Institute in Terre Haute for two years before going to work for the railroads. He worked for the Southern Pacific Company in the mechanical department until 1903, and then went to work for the City of Sacramento (CA). He started as a mechanical engineer, supervising the construction of a large pumping station. He was appointed Assistant City Engineer and designed and supervised the construction of many street and sewer system improvements, including many of Sacramento County's bridges. As the City Engineer, he designed and supervised construction of Sacramento's flood protection system with its by-pass channels, relief weirs, and protective levees, which included the Yolo by-pass. He went into private practice between 1915 and 1921. Mr. Givan was reappointed to City Engineer of Sacramento in 1921.

Albert Givan was one of the founders of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) in 1923 and served as the first general manager and chief engineer of the District. He was also one of the organizers of the California State Board of Registration for Civil Engineers in 1929, and was the first secretary of the Board. He held the office of Secretary for four years. He carried California Civil Engineer Registration No, 1. Click here to view certificate

Barbara Marx-Givan (Daughter-in-law) and Barbara Givan-Wallace (Granddaughter) of the late Albert Givan, were both very knowledgeable about Albert Givan and what he had accomplished. They have donated over 80 individual surveying related Items and over 50 books to the Mount Diablo Surveyor's Historical Society in order to preserve them along with Albert’s legacy. (To see the itemized listing, click here. Use the “Back” button to return). Mrs. Givan and Mrs. Wallace were extremely happy to donate these items to the Society. We were almost fighting over who was happier - them for giving the artifacts to us or us for receiving the equipment from them.

The Mount Diablo Surveyor's Historical Society thanks Barbara Marx-Glvan and Barbara Givan-Wallace for their kind and much appreciated support for our Society. With us, the legacy of Albert Givan, RCE # 1, will live on.

Thanks go out to MDSHS member Paul Kittridge from the Redwood City office of Brian Kangas Falk for referring both Barbara’s to the Mount Diablo Surveyor's Historical Society. This donation is our greatest acquisition to date.

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