Richard J. Erickson (BS 69) has won the Alumni Award for Distinguished Service from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Erickson will be honored with other distinguished alumni and top students at the Student and Alumni Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 12 at the I-Hotel.
The College of Engineering Alumni Award for Distinguished Service is conferred upon exceptional alumni each year. Recipients are recognized for professional distinction through outstanding leadership, contributions to the field of engineering, creativity and entrepreneurship; as well as service to society, the professional community, and to the department, college or university. Erickson is being recognized for his “distinguished leadership in the profession of Construction Engineering and Management, dedicated service to and mentorship of Illinois graduates, and exceptional entrepreneurship with vision, integrity and innovation.”
Erickson earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Illinois in 1969, and an MBA from University of Chicago in 1980. He had a long standing career with the W.E. O’Neil Construction Company, starting out as a project engineer in 1973 to becoming COO and President of O’Neil Industries, Inc. in 2003. Since his retirement from the W.E.O’Neil Family of companies in 2016 he has provided consulting services with the California office working to maintain owner relationships, and creating ROM budgets and schedules on selected projects. He is currently engaged in a strategic planning assignment for a Los Angeles based structural engineer, leadership development coaching and is the Board Chair for Craft Contemporary in Los Angeles.
Prior to his work with the W.E.O’Neil Family of companies, Erickson worked on numerous infrastructure and underground utilities projects for private developers and public agencies with W.M.Lyles Company and O’Shaughnessy Construction, both in California.
His involvement with the University of Illinois continued after earning his undergraduate degree. He is currently a member of the President’s Council and Tribe of Illini. He was formerly a member of the University of Illinois’ College of Engineering Advisory Board, as well as a Civil & Environmental Engineering Alumni Association (CEEAA) board member, coordinator for the student mentor program for CEEAA Board of Directors and past CEEAA Board President.
Erickson was honored with a Distinguished Alumni Award from the CEEAA and an Honorary Chapter Member of Chi Epsilon, the National Civil Engineering Society, with Special Honor by the University of Illinois.