CH2MHill Partner Clair Hill Left Legacy as a Leader of California Water Services

On April 11, Clair A. Hill, founder and president of Clair A. Hill and Associates, died in Redding, California after suffering from a long illness. He was 89.

Hill was born in 1909 in Redding, California, where he spent the majority of his life and established his career. In 1934 he graduated from Stanford University with a degree in civil engineering. After graduation he found work with the Standard Oil Co. in San Francisco. He then served as an assistant resident engineer for the California Bridge Department (now CALTRANS).

In 1938 he returned to Redding and founded his engineering firm, Clair A. Hill and Associates. The firm specialized in water resources, surveying, mapping and structural engineering. Hill established offices in California and Alaska and served clients such as the U.S. Air Force, the Sacramento Utility District and Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

In 1956 Clair A. Hill and Associates became associated with CH2M while working on Oregon housing development project. For years following the firms continued to work together on different projects, such as the world's first major advanced wastwater treatment project. In 1971 the two companies merged to form CH2M HILL.

Hill is recognized as a major contributor to California's water-supply planning and management, having served for 32 years on the California Water Commission, 18 of those as its chairman. While on the commission, he signed California's original state water plan, which outlined projects that today store water in the state's northern section for use by communities and industries throughout the state. Last year, he was one of eight civil engineers nationwide to receive Honorary Lifetime Membership in the American Society of Civil Engineers.