As a result of an entire career devoted to highway engineering, particularly maintenance problems, Robert Hugh Baldock helped accomplish numerous improvements in the specifications for oiled and surface-treated highways and for other types of bituminous construction in Oregon as well as elsewhere in the United States.
He has served as President of both the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) and the Western Association of State Highway Officials (WASHO). He was responsible as well for much outstanding work on committees set up by these two organizations. Other technical societies of which he was a member also benefited greatly from his work.
An excellent writer, he penned numerous articles and presented papers at the meetings of various organizations. One of his most important papers was given at the annual meeting of the Highway Research Board in 1963. It was entitled “The Annual Cost of Highways.”
In 1946, the University of Oregon recognized the outstanding contributions of Mr. Baldock by awarding him the honorary degree of Doctor of Science.
A native of Colorado, born in 1889, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado. In 1910 he joined the Oregon State Highway Commission where he gained a great deal of varied experience while working his way up to Assistant State Highway Engineer. He held this position from 1915 to 1932 when was appointed Chief Engineer.
Although he retired as Chief Engineer in 1956, he continued to work in highway engineering as a consultant. As such, Mr. Baldock helped several foreign countries develop their highway systems.
Elected: 1965
