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Late district engineer records career in 'Highway Memories'

Boyd Rood had a passion for his profession and a deep affection for his art. Both come vividly alive in “Highway Memories – Good Times, Great Friends,” a memoir and portfolio.

Rood, an engineer who enjoyed assignments throughout Idaho during his 30-year career, passed away in May 2008. But his memories of the department and his many colleagues are captured in the 80-page book. It traces his professional journey, beginning with the Chapter 1 account of his arrival fresh from the University of Idaho engineering program in 1958.

“I started as an Engineer-In-Training at $425 per month, which was quite good in 1958,” he wrote, “and fairly competitive to salaries offered by other state and federal agencies who recruited at the University.”

Rood was an assistant district engineer in Lewiston before being promoted to district engineer in Coeur d’Alene where he retired in 1988. He worked as a consulting engineer for Lake City Engineering in Coeur d’Alene until retiring again in 2003.

“Highway Memories” includes a chronological record of his ITD career, interspersed with stories about his colleagues and his own cartoon sketches that dealt with the frailties of public service. It also includes a large selection of sketches by colleague Jim Rowlan, to whom the book is dedicated.

The book also is dedicated to “the many loyal employees of the Division of Highways, formerly the Idaho Highway Department, who served the state of Idaho so well during the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s – the time period I feel produced the greatest improvements to Idaho’s highways…”

To order copies of “Highway Memories,” contact Delores Rood at 2255 Sheri Drive, Emmett, ID, 83617, or telephone (208) 398-8049. Cost is $19.90, including shipping and handling and sales tax.