Banks McLaurin, Early Bridge/Hydraulic Engineer, ASCE Member

May 2026

Author: Melinda Luna PE

Banks McLaurin was Bridge/Hydraulic engineer whose career blended practice, teaching, and public service. He was born on October 20, 1888, in Webberville, Texas, to Hugh McLaurin, a farmer, and Beulah Banks, a housewife. Both of his parents died before he turned twelve, leaving him and his brother orphaned at a young age. No records were found that verified where Banks and his brothers lived but since his mother’s parents were the only ones alive and lived in Bastrop most likely they lived with the mothers’ parents.

McLaurin enrolled at the University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in civil engineering and graduated in 1911. One of the students enrolled earlier than Banks and served as an instructor was Gibb Gilchrist. Other Classmates included H R Helland, who was actively involved in the ASCE section. He took classes with Julian Hinds and T.U. Taylor. He was active in ASCE Texas Section both as a student and professional. After graduation, he worked as a recorder (Project manager) for USACE managing engineering records and projects. At the same time, he managed his family’s farm, operated a mercantile business, and ran a cotton gin. During this period, he frequently traveled back to the university for events. When he later moved to Austin, he transferred his acreage to his brother, Coin McLaurin.

In 1917, McLaurin was drafted into military service. His World War I draft registration described him as of medium height, with brown hair, blue eyes, and a slender build. Around 1919, he began working for the Texas State Highway Department under George Wickline, for the first Bridge Engineer of the Texas State Highway Department. The Bridge Office was responsible for developing bridge plans with only six engineers for the whole state and that included hydrology and hydraulics analyses. McLaurin contributed significantly to this work and helped establish standard procedures for hydrology and hydraulics early in the Bridge Division.

His expertise attracted the attention of the University of Texas at Austin, and in 1925 he joined the faculty as a staff member assisting with instruction. Students described him as a clear presenter and a patient teacher. His students included Leah Moncure PE, first woman professional engineer in Texas. He was appointed instructor in 1927, became department chair in 1935, and was promoted to full professor in 1943.

McLaurin collaborated with Thomas U. Taylor, the first dean of UT Austin, on several research projects, including a study on the silting of Lake Austin. He prepared cross-sections illustrating silting depths, and the resulting publication was released in 1929 and later published in the national proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

From 1911 to 1931, McLaurin was involved with the Engineers Loan Fund, which provided financial assistance to promising engineering students through donated funds. In 1959, he was also appointed to the Lewis Scholarship Fund, which awarded $50 (approximately $553 in 2025 dollars) to students pursuing graduate engineering degrees.

McLaurin married Lillian Ethel Manor in 1915, and they had three daughters: Beulah, Mary, and Elizabeth. Following Lillian’s death in 1918, he married Evelyn Davidson. Their son, Banks McLaurin, later attended the University of Texas at Austin and also majored in engineering.

Beyond his professional work, McLaurin was active in his community. He served as an election judge and participated in church activities. Newspaper articles from the time document his life, including travel to destinations such as New York City and Canada, as well as social events hosted by his wife that involved university professors and engineers from the State Highway Department. Other articles noted the marriages of his colleagues and the roles his daughters played as bridesmaids or guests.

At the age of 73 years old, Banks McLaurin died on March 27, 1962, after several months of hospitalization. His pallbearers included colleagues such as:

• Julian Montgomery, Public Works Director for the WPA in Texas, Chief Highway Engineer, went on to be State Engineer
• John Focht, Professor of Transportation engineer, active in ASCE Texas Section
• Clyde Littlefield, athlete at UT, head UT track coach, founder of the Texas Relay