AISC is pleased to present the first AISC Honorary Member Award since 2013 to Lawrence F. Kruth, PE, for nearly five decades of service in the structural steel industry.
In addition to spending close to 40 years at Douglas Steel Fabricating, Kruth served as AISC’s vice president of engineering and research for six years and devoted his career to safety volunteer work.
Kruth is only the 14th person to receive honorary membership, and his name sits among other major contributors to AISC and to the steel industry as a whole. When he found out he had received the Honorary Member award and saw the recipients that came before him, Kruth felt honored to be “in the same class,” he said.
"It is a great honor to have received that same award as the late Fernando Friás, a founding member of the Mexican Institute of Steel Construction,” Kruth said. “I knew Fernando for many years since he served as an advisory member to the AISC Committee on Specifications. One of his most notable accomplishments for me was translating the AISC Specification to Spanish for use in Mexico."
Throughout his years of service, Kruth helped develop and refine several of AISC’s safety initiatives, including a program that helps almost every person on staff receive CPR training and certification. He is held in high esteem for his expansive knowledge on safety, contractual matters, connection design, and quality control and assurance.
"I'm very pleased to see Larry recognized with this award,” said AISC President Charlie Carter. “He has been a tireless resource and volunteer for AISC--even more so when he joined the staff. The entire design community and steel construction industry has benefitted from Larry's contributions.”
"It has been a pleasure working with someone that brings so much enthusiasm and energy to our industry," added Steve Knitter, chairman of the AISC Board of Directors.