(Washington, D.C.) – Gene Buth, Division Head of Safety and Structural Systems of the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI), is the 2002 recipient of the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Kenneth A. Stonex Award.
This award was created in honor of Kenneth A. Stonex, the General Motors engineer who pioneered highway safety in the 1940’s-1950’s. Concepts conceived by Stonex are still in use today in the US Interstate System and urban freeway network. This award recognizes an individual who has made remarkable contributions to transportation safety. The award was presented January 15 during the TRB annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
According to the award citation, the award was presented to Buth, “In recognition of more than three decades of service and achievement in advancing state-of-the-art in roadside safety; for his pioneering research in bridge rail design & analysis methods; for his role in the development and testing of innovative roadside safety devices including the ET-2000 guardrail end terminal; for his education and mentoring two generations of transportation safety professionals; and for his staunch dedication and commitment to promoting roadside safety. His invaluable contributions have prevented untold numbers of injuries and fatalities, and made highways safer for us all.”
Buth, a professional engineer, has been a member of the TTI staff for 39 years. As Division Head, he is responsible for research in the areas of transportation safety and structural systems. He has specialized in the design and performance evaluation of bridge rails, and roadside safety features.