• Editor’s note: Former Yelm activist Ed Wiltsie (deceased March 16, 2010) has been recently recognized posthumously for his research and work. Ed brought his expertise in soils, ground water run-off, and ground water recharge to the Yelm City Council in the mid 2000s, along with Bill Hashim and me, on a whole host of issues, from a 5,000 home development, to a then-proposed Wal-Mart Super-store, and their potential affects on our town. Mayor Harding and the city council responded with defiance and deaf ears. Click here to read my March 17, 2010 tribute to Ed. This from the Nisqually Valley News.
• His daughter Amie Maxwell posted this on Facebook this week: “My dad Ed Wiltsie has been chosen by The American Society For Civil Engineers The Hall Of Fame Award for his paper written, while working in Saudi Arabia for Aramco, about the State of the Art Pile Driving Techniques for piles driven in offshore locations to anchor the foundations for the platforms. I am so proud and excited, following us the bio my mom wrote for him.”

Edward Allan Wiltsie – Biographical Sketch (published here with permission)

“Edward Allan Wiltsie was born in Schenectady New York and by the age of two moved with his mother to Eatontown, New Jersey reuniting with his maternal family. He grew up in Eatontown and completed High School at Christian Brothers Academy. In 1972, Ed earned a BSCE from at Newark College of Engineering in Newark, New Jersey and two years later a MS in Soils Mechanics from the same institute. It was also in 1974 that he was licensed as a Professional Engineering.

“Ed worked in consulting engineering in Southern New Jersey for three years. Ed then joined Olko Engineering for two years and later Mussar, Rutledge, Johnson and DeSimone, both in New York City, working on international engineering projects. It was from Meussar, Rutledge that Ed was sent as a consultant to Aramco in Saudi Arabia. This was the doorway that opened the opportunity for Ed to work for Aramco and his family to live at the Aramco facilities in Dhahran Saudi Arabia for 5.5 years the first time and 1.5 years several years later.

“Ed loved all types of Civil Engineering but, his deepest love was for off shore and shore protection engineering. No matter what company he worked for, he always attracted and developed work in this field. Therefore, when he joined Aramco, he was given the sole responsibility for engineering the installation of the foundations for the off shore platforms. This meant overseeing many pile driving barges in the Arabia Gulf at the same time and making sure all piles were driven with as few problems as possible. This was a major challenge and a fabulous opportunity and Ed embraced it and became the resident expert for Aramco. While with Aramco, Ed also developed the first mentoring program for young Saudi Engineers. Because of who Ed was and the diligence of his commitment, Ed was respected by his peers for his engineering work and was loved and held in high regard by the young Saudi Engineers. It was during the first five years in Saudi, Ed met and worked with Bob Stevens and Tom Turton on the engineering challenges of and solutions for pile driving in the Arabian Gulf. Because of their work together these three men developed their State of The Art Pile Driving Technique for Saudi Arabia. This was unprecedented work and the paper, that is earning these three men a place in the Hall of Fame of Civil Engineering, was written from this experience and wisdom. When Ed returned to the states, he worked for two years for Exxon in Houston, Texas making his mark on this big corporate giant. While at Exxon, Ed was called into the Chairman’s Office and was given a bonus for saving Exxon millions on the Australia Project. And, although Exxon didn’t want to lose Ed, Ed felt a different call. Ed left Exxon and he and his family moved to Washington State where he became a partner in the consulting engineering firm Jerome W. Morrissette Associates in Olympia Washington for last 20 years of his life. It was during this time that Ed and his family traveled globally for fun and he and Amber traveled in the states and overseas for his lectures.

“Ed had many hobbies such as: backpacking, ice hockey, swimming, gardening, motor cycling, biking, music and much more. He was always filled with energy and was constantly on the move. Ed was a very spiritual man and spent many hours in meditation and thought.

“Ed was married to Amber Rafferty Wiltsie for 43 years and they not only were together all through 4 years of engineering school but spent 43 years of life together personally and professionally. Edward passed 2010 and is survived by his family members. Ed and Amber have two married daughters Amie and her husband Brook Wiltsie-Foster and three children Nalani (22), Zeus (18) and Caiomhe (6); Arianne and her husband Michael Wiltsie-Hiebert and two sons Dominic(4) and Brayden (1); and a married son Edward Martin Wiltsie and Elizabeth Wiltsie.”