(Photo Provided) A paper photo of Engineer Wright – clipped out of his Engineer’s Annual Report – is glued onto Commission President Kevin Ritter’s office coffee mug. The reason remains murky, but it could be all about inspiration.

Washington County Engineer Roger Wright might have thought he reached the peak of his career when his photo appeared on a county commissioner’s office coffee mug. But things just got even better.

Wright has been named Engineer of the Year by a vote of his peers in the County Engineers Association of Ohio. He received the award Thursday in Columbus at the three-day joint Winter Conference of the 88-county engineers’ group and the County Commissioners Association of Ohio. Wright, who earned his Professional Engineer and Professional Surveyor degrees at Ohio University, has worked in the Washington County Engineer’s office since 1999 and has served as County Engineer for 11 years. From their comments, he has earned the admiration of the current Washington County Commissioners for tackling complicated projects with determination and success, being a good communicator and seeking the use of federal and state funds whenever he can.

“Roger is very deserving of this award,” County Commissioner Charlie Schilling said. “His job is to oversee roads and bridges, but he goes way beyond to help us.”

Specifically, Wright’s department is responsible for all county roads, bridges that have a 10-foot span or larger on township roads, and all bridges and culverts on county roads. The county engineer also provides technical oversight to the County Tax Map office.

And actually, Wright is the sewer engineer for the county as well, having been designated for that post by county commissioners in Summer 2022. Wright’s efforts to shepherd the Devola Sewer Project to a correctly installed, organized conclusion are almost finished, and have been successful. Among other things, the $15 million project has involved about 500 residences, contractors and subcontractors, Ohio EPA compliance, an electrical phase preceding the Septic Tank Effluent Pump phase, court-ordered deadlines and participation procedures involving every residence in the project.

(Photo Provided) Washington County Engineering Department Office Manager Emily Griffin is shown with County Engineer Roger Wright after the presentation of Wright’s award for Engineer of the Year. The Washington County Engineer and Highway Department is responsible for maintaining 341 miles of two lane county roads and 377 bridges within one of the largest geographic area counties in Ohio, according to one of Wright’s annual reports.

“Roger is an extremely dedicated elected official,” Commissioner James Booth said, “and for the success in Devola, Roger deserves all the credit.”

When Wright describes any project results to commissioners or the public, however, he is often heard thanking and crediting everyone involved in his work and picturing how the work is going to benefit county residents.

For the recent re-opening ceremony for the Hills Covered Bridge, for example, Wright invited the construction contractor to come back and cut the ribbon and made sure he explained the craftsmanship provided by the Washington County Highway Department personnel, who did the approach spans and railings.

He also expressed his enthusiasm for the bridge becoming a tourist attraction once again, and offered his office as the source for a full driving tour and map for the county’s nine remaining covered bridges.

“Roger never says ‘No,'” County Commission President Kevin Ritter says. “Whether it’s a landslip, bridge replacement or road repair, he always finds a way to get it done. Washington County is blessed to have such a dedicated engineer.”