R. Leroy Givens

Raymond "LeRoy" Givens passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 8, 2021 while surrounded by his immediate family.

LeRoy's Life Celebration will be held on Saturday, May 22, 2021 from 1:30pm - 4:30pm. The family would love to hear a story, or two, of how LeRoy touched your life. The family will hold a virtual celebration for those unable to attend in person from 2:30pm - 3:30pm. Please contact LeRoy's family for the location and information on how to join the virtual celebration.

Due to the COVID restrictions set in place by the Governor, masks are MANDATORY to attend LeRoy's Life Celebration.

He is survived by his loving wife of more than 60 years Judy; his oldest daughter Dana Patterson (husband Chris}; oldest son Kevin Givens (wife Alison Arias); youngest son Scott Givens (wife Senta); youngest daughter Jennifer Rawlings (husband Lance); brother Glenn Givens (wife Barbie) and families; and sister Irene Riedel and families. LeRoy was fortunate enough to enjoy eight grandchildren—Mason Buckland, Ross Arias, Travis Givens, Ryane Givens, Hudson Givens, Bryson Givens, Breanna Rawlings, and Savannah Rawlings.

He will be forever missed by his family, friends, and colleagues.

LeRoy was born in the small farming community of Milton-Freewater, Oregon, in the mid-1930’s. His family lived in various places in Oregon, Washington, and Northern California, including Redding, where his dad worked on the building of the Shasta Dam. His family subsequently moved to Susanville, California, a town named for one of the strong, courageous women of the Donner party of 1846. The town is about 80 miles NW of Reno, NV, known for its rugged beauty and high mountain terrain. The grit and perseverance of the early immigrants carried through to the culture of this small town.  His Dad and Uncle owned a ‘Auto Dismantling’ business... aka Wrecking Yard ...where he learned a lot about cars, and earned spending money doing hard work for them.

LeRoy grew up in an environment similar to that of Happy Days---a white T shirt and Levi’s---with a cast of characters... Booty, Howard, Glen, and Ralph, to name a few, similar to those of Richie, Potsie, Ralph and Fonzie. News traveled quickly particularly if you got into trouble.  By the time you got home your parents already knew what trouble you were in, and you usually got a second dose of discipline. Honesty, trustworthiness, and respect were cultivated in this town. It was commonly known that keys were left in unlocked cars in the driveways of unlocked homes.  No one thought about stealing a car or entering a home unless invited.

LeRoy was gifted in Academics and Athletics. He got the majority of his size the summer before he entered High School. He worried about meeting the ‘bully’ from Junior High on his first day.  As the bully walked by, LeRoy towered over him, so the bully gave a meek wave and ‘hi’. LeRoy used his size to his advantage and developed his quick wit and great sense of humor to keep him out of trouble and any potential ‘fights’ with the Big Guy.

Hunting and fishing dominated his out of class time, while basketball, baseball, football, wrestling, and track dominated his athletic endeavors. During the summers he worked at the wrecking yard, and later for the Forest Service. It was during the Forest Service time that he learned to cook. He thought cooking was a much better job than leaning over setting plants day after day, even if cooking was for a six-man convict crew fighting fires. It was an even trade as the convicts helped him fine tune his culinary skills in trade for some ‘hooch’ brewing on the back of the campfire.

Upon his graduation, LeRoy was awarded a football scholarship from San Jose State University. After his first year at SJSU, LeRoy returned to Susanville to attend Lassen Junior College and figure out what direction he would pursue. In January of 1958, on a blind date arranged by his friend, Bob Adams, LeRoy met Judy, who just happened to be Bob’s sister. LeRoy said it was a ‘Fatal Attraction’ as his carefree bachelor days were over when he took her home to meet his family, knowing this was the girl for him. LeRoy then transferred to San Diego State College (now University), to be closer to Judy, who was attending the University of Redlands. She transferred to SDSC a year later.

Just before LeRoy and Judy were married in 1960, the survey crew LeRoy had worked on during the previous two summers had folded due to the major economic depression in San Diego.  He needed a job to continue working and going to school. At a party that Thanksgiving, he was told to talk with General Dynamics, a large company working on missiles. The interview went well, except the company didn’t have a job for him. As he stood up to leave, the interviewer commented on how big he was and had he played football. He said yes, but his first love was basketball. Quickly a phone call was made and the question was asked, ‘Do we still need a center for our basketball team?’. LeRoy was hired!

During his senior year, representing SDSU’s Engineering Department, LeRoy’s winning design and model of a Hyperbolic paraboloid.... a roof that looks something like a saddle made from all straight lines...gave him a weekend in Yosemite where the competition was held, and recognition competing with other designs from schools throughout the State of California.

Graduating June of 1963, after considering several majors and earning lots of credits in academic pursuits, and honorably serving in the United States Navy Reserve, LeRoy finally completed his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He was honored to have President John F. Kennedy as his commencement speaker.

After interning with Boyle Engineering during school, he joined them full time upon graduation, which ultimately brought him and his family to Las Vegas, NV.  He and Buzz enjoyed 10+ years working on many engineering projects, and going on hunting trips in Nevada. On one of those trips, he shot a deer with the biggest antler spread earning him a ‘bragging buckle’. He also had the distinction of two weeks on the witness stand for the 5 million dollar longest... ’trial by Jury’ lawsuit (1980), in the state of Nevada. Longing for better hunting and fishing opportunities, LeRoy landed a job transfer to Washington State. An economic down-turn in the early 1980s, meant LeRoy pulled up stakes once again and moved the family to New Mexico.

LeRoy continued to prosper both personally and professionally. He successfully managed and grew the local Albuquerque Boyle Engineering office, then moved on to competitor IDC in 1998. He worked on engineering projects out of Oregon for a few years, but wasn’t interested in moving there permanently. He left IDC and joined Bohannan-Huston, Inc., back in Albuquerque, serving as quality control, and a mentor for the young engineers during his retirement years. He was honored to be part of the New Mexico Court of Appeals expansion lending his skills and engineering expertise.

Professionally, he left his influence on many engineering projects:

California: initial design of Shelter Island in San Diego; a 96” water pipeline running thru Scripps Ranch, near San Diego (at 8 feet, that was big enough for LeRoy to walk through!); two parallel overpasses in Indio, CA., which spanned across the hub of all the railroad tracks, and accounted for the earthquakes known in that area.

Nevada: expansion of the Clark County Sewer system in Las Vegas; varies site development along the Strip.

Washington: a pump station from the Colombia River to Kennewick, WA, in the Horse Haven Hills.  The client was C & H Sugar, who was growing potatoes for McDonald’s.  While it is now the vineyards for 4-Hands Wines, the property was initially homesteaded by LeRoy’s grandfather.  Unfortunately, his grandfather lost the land during the Great Depression.

New Mexico: Grindstone Canyon Dam in Ruidoso, NM; an extension of the Ruidoso Race track to accommodate thoroughbred racing; VLBA—Very Long Baseline Array—spanning 9 states which includes Mauna Kea on the big Island of Hawaii, the Virgin Islands, and three sites in NM—Los Alamos, Socorro and the infamous ‘Pie Town’; and site work at the Rio Rancho Intel plant...

...just to name a few.

LeRoy was successful and well-respected in the professional community. He served as the NM American Public Works Association (APWA) Chapter President; at the urging of President Elect, Bill Verkest, became the SW Regional Director, and as the chapter’s representative to the House of Delegates.  In 2006, LeRoy received the distinct honor of NM Chapter National Society of Professional Engineers “Engineer of the Year”, shared with Mike Malloy.  LeRoy was also a registered Professional Engineer (PE) in most, if not all, states West of the Mississippi River: CA, AZ, NM, CO, ID, WA, OR, WY, TX, OK, UT, and MT.

He was an active Rotarian for many years, and a Paul Harris Fellow---once on a trip to Ruidoso he stopped in to make up a meeting in Carrazozo. After introductions were made and lots of questions were asked of LeRoy, he inquired as to the program. The members replied, ‘You’re it! Keep talking!’; Young Engineer for the Village of Ruidoso in the 1980’s, an active member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), and loved to play golf.

LeRoy enjoyed traveling on his vacations, even a few that had interesting engineering feats... 13 locks down the Danube River, and the Big One---the Panama Canal.  Other memorable trips included touring in Alaska, and boating the waterways from the State of Washington thru the inside passage to Alaska, where he caught a salmon big enough to feed 7 people for a week!

He also enjoyed volunteering with ‘Math Counts’ (a competitive math event for middle school students), and of course being an active ‘bench warmer’ for roping, volleyball, soccer, mountain biking, swimming, chorus and musical performances...and anything else his grandchildren wanted him to see.

LeRoy thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors and the adventures he shared with family and friends. A favorite family camping spot was Stanley Lake, ID, and visiting Mac and Jane at “McCoy’s Tackle Shop”.

Passing on his love of hunting, fishing, and camping to his family and friends was a big part of his life. He was excited to be involved in the first elk hunt with Grandson Mason, and son Scott, first antelope hunt with Granddaughter, Bre; share in the excitement of hunts with his daughter, Jennifer, sons-in-law Lance and Chris, and friends Buzz, and sons Mark and Brad, Gary, and son Robert, Jeremy, and Ted, aka ‘Mr. Apple”. Fishing with Dana and Kevin, and later Jenn, Bre and Lance, yielded many Tall Tales of the longest, biggest, and tastiest fried fish cooked in his big cast iron skillet on the open campfire. LeRoy even kept a compact fishing rod and tackle box in the trunk of his company-issued business sedan, just in case there was an opportunity to cast a line in between business appointments!

LeRoy balanced his professional career and support of his family by attending many horse shows, basketball and soccer games, mountain bike races, waterskiing competitions and drill team performances. He was also known for his perfection of a sourdough starter and all the delicious recipes that ensued. He enjoyed cooking sourdough pancakes for family camping trips, basketball events, equine 4-H competitions and round ups, BSA troop functions, mountain bike races, and brunch for his colleagues at Bohannan-Huston, Inc.

Education was very important to him. His love and dedication to his family resulted in all four of his kids achieving college degrees. He was full of pride as he watched each of his kids and grandchildren graduate from college—or virtual college graduation in the case of his soon to be granddaughter by marriage to Mason, or schooling for a distinctive career of their choice.

LeRoy was so fortunate to have been able to spend such valued and cherished time with his family and friends. His larger-than-life presence, his infectious smile, and great sense of humor will be missed. He has left us to embark on his next hunting and fishing adventure, but he will always be with us in our hearts and minds.

To honor LeRoy’s lifetime commitment to leadership, community service, education and hunting, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following organizations.

American Public Works Association (APWA) – Education Fund:

Provides financial funding to create educational training and professional development opportunities focused on emerging public works technologies, leadership development, public works innovation, and best practices idea exchange between public works professionals.

Please send checks payable to APWA Foundation, Memo: LeRoy Givens, to:

APWA Foundation: Education Fund

Attn: Julie Bebermeyer

1200 Main Street, Ste. 1400

Kansas City, MO 64105

Rotary (Rotary Club of Albuquerque Del Sol):

Rotary: “Service Above Self”

Rotary Del Sol Foundation: Annually selects children’s charities from the Greater Albuquerque area to support their programs

Please send checks payable to Rotary Del Sol Foundation, Memo: LeRoy Givens, to:

Rotary Club of Albuquerque Del Sol

PO Box 93578

Albuquerque, NM 87199-3578

Hunting (New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association):

Wildlife Committee allocates donated funds to Youth Hunter Safety and the NRA Whittington Center

Please send checks payable to NM Cattle Growers’ Association, Memo: LeRoy Givens, to:

NM Cattle Growers’ Association

PO Box 7517

Albuquerque, NM 87194