From his childhood home on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River, Carl Littrell lived near modern construction marvels – Lock & Dam 24, the first steel bridge to cross the Mississippi, an early segment of the Interstate Highway System and the Gateway Arch. These landmarks shaped his decision to become an engineer.

On March 23, the Indiana chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers recognized another kind of landmark. They named South Bend City Engineer Carl P. Littrell as “Engineer of the Year” at their annual meeting in Carmel, Ind.

“Carl is a terrific example of the talented, dedicated and selfless staff who work for the City of South Bend,” said Mayor Stephen J. Luecke. “His expertise has helped us to plan and maintain critical infrastructure that supports new growth and development. He has overseen numerous projects for the City, saving us many thousands of dollars. We applaud this recognition by his peers – it is well-deserved.”

“I am humbled, honored and quite flattered by this,” said Littrell, who, characteristically, attributed the recognition to his staff, saying “you folks make me look good. No doubt about it.”

Littrell’s co-workers say the recognition of Littrell by the leading engineers in the state was no bluff.

“Carl’s generosity of spirit to want to share the honor with the staff is a part of that character that reflects on why folks would seek to recognize him and his accomplishment,” said Gary Gilot, South Bend’s director of public works. “His professional recognition award is also a positive reflection on the South Bend community. That Carl should be held in such regard by his peers out of all the city engineers and consulting engineers in the state by this professional association speaks well of the caliber of South Bend city staff.”

The award followed an earlier honor from a regional chapter of the American Society of Engineers.

A native of St. Louis, Littrell grew up in Louisiana, Mo., just upstream from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Lock & Dam 24 at a home that had views of two truss bridges over the Mississippi. He moved to Indiana to study at the University of Notre Dame, where he received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering.

He worked at Shilts, Graves & Associates in South Bend, becoming its president in 1974. During his tenure, the company grew from two employees to 20 and saw major shifts in the concrete and asphalt-paving industries. Littrell recounts with satisfaction the white Portland Cement that he proportioned to become part of the concrete in the Great Hall at Century Center. He also points with pride to the durability of thousands of projects in which he had a hand – from single-family homes to the First Source Center, from grain silos to I/N Tek-I/N Kote.

Littrell joined the City of South Bend in 1990 as director of engineering. He became city engineer in 1997.

As city engineer, Littrell is responsible at any given time for a volume of nearly $40 million worth of civic projects in their planning, design or construction phase. In his time with the city, Littrell’s hand has been a part of such major renovations as the Morris Performing Arts Center, the Palais Royale and the South Bend Police headquarters as well as new construction projects, such as the Central Fire Station and the College Football Hall of Fame.

Littrell also has been involved in work that is less visible. He developed and led a program for the city to share the cost of $7.3 million of curb and sidewalk replacements with 3,350 homeowners. He participates in planning for the city’s efforts to reduce combined storm/sanitary sewer overflow, and now directs implementation of a stormwater management plan.

He also has participated in physical changes that lead to South Bend’s new growth, whether in the Blackthorn Development Area and Portage Prairie or through the conversion of the former Studebaker manufacturing corridor into a new industrial center.

Littrell is a registered professional engineer in Indiana and Michigan. In addition to being an ASCE fellow, he is a member of the International Municipal Signal Association and the Indiana Association of City Engineers. He is treasurer of the Indiana chapter of the American Public Works Association, Chi Epsilon, and a charter member of the American Concrete Institute’s Indiana chapter.

For additional information, contact: Tom Price, Assistant to the Mayor, 574.235.5853, or Carl Littrell, City Engineer, 574.235.5937.