ASTM International Committee C18 on Dimension Stone presented an ASTM International Award of Merit to Kurt R. Hoigard, P.E., principal of Raths, Raths & Johnson Inc. in Willowbrook, Ill. The committee cited Hoigard, who joined ASTM International in 1987, for his exceptional contributions, outstanding leadership and dedicated commitment to C18 in developing new test methods. The award, which is accompanied by the title of fellow, is the highest ASTM International honor for individual contributions to standards activities.

Hoigard lives in LaGrange, Ill.

Chair of Subcommittee C18.01 on Test Methods, Hoigard has been an active contributor to the revision of existing standards and the development of new ones, including ASTM's first standards for anchorage testing. He has been chair of the 100-member C18 main committee and a member of the Committee on Standards; both groups have recognized his terms with service awards. Hoigard has also participated in several interlaboratory test programs to analyze and refine proposed and existing standards.

Soon after graduating from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, Ill., with a B.S.C.E., where he also earned his M.S.C.E., Hoigard joined the Raths, Raths & Johnson Inc. staff as an engineer. After being promoted to project engineer and then senior engineer, he assumed his current position with the firm in 1994.

Professionally, Hoigard specializes in the evaluation and repair of distressed buildings and structures. This work includes condition surveys, plan reviews, structural calculations, material evaluations, and preparing plans and specifications for repairs to the exterior envelope and structural elements.

Outside ASTM International, Hoigard is a member of the American Concrete Institute, the American Institute of Steel Construction, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Structural Engineering Institute and the Architectural Engineering Institute.

Release #7666