What’s happening
Hosted by the King's Highway Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Bastrop County Historical Commission, in partnership with the Texas Department of Public Transportation, the event will honor Leah Moncure with guest speakers, light refreshments and the unveiling of her monument.
The event will begin inside the Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St., Bastrop, with a host of speakers and special guests—including Moncure’s family members—at 1:30 p.m.
Around 2:15 p.m., attendees will be invited to meet at the marker site for the unveiling at 1601 Main St., Bastrop.
The background
According to a news release from the Texas Historical Commission, Moncure made history in 1938 when she became the first woman in Texas to earn a professional engineering license. From there, she began working for TxDOT—formerly the Texas Highway Department. Specializing in research, right-of-way and road design, Moncure’s career spanned 32 years, focusing on Austin, Houston, Beaumont and Lufkin.
Since then, TxDOT said more than 300 female engineers have followed in her footsteps—including one of the guest speakers, Diana Schulze, who serves as TxDOT’s head engineer in Bastrop.
According to the news release, when Schulze took over the role in 2016, she became the first-ever female engineer to hold the top spot at any TxDOT in the Austin area.
“I think it’s pretty neat that we both have ties to Bastrop County,” Schulze said in the release. “We’ve come a long way, and it’s important we continue to honor Leah’s legacy.”
How we got here
Bastrop resident Sandra Chipley—a retired TxDOT employee and engineer—spearheaded the historical marker for Moncure.
“I came across [Moncure’s] story in an employee newsletter before retiring last year,” Chipley said. “I was like ‘Oh my gosh, she lived right down the street from me.’”
Chipley said she quickly decided to nominate Moncure’s story to the Texas Historical Commission.
- Jan. 13, 1:30-2:30 p.m.
- Free
- Bastrop Public Library, 1100 Church St., Bastrop; 1601 Main St., Bastrop
- www.thc.texas.gov