User:Dfang21/grant

Howard P. Grant (1925-1997) was an African-American civil engineer. Grant was the first Black graduate of the UC Berkeley College of Engineering, and was a civil engineer in the City and County of San Francisco.

Early life and education
Grant was born in Houston in 1925 and moved to Los Angeles with his family as a young boy. After first attending UCLA, Grant transferred to UC Berkeley's College of Engineering and became its first Black graduate in 1948. Grant also served in the Air Force before his graduation.

Career
In 1948, Grant became the earliest known Black member of the American Society of Civil Engineers. In addition to being the second Black civil engineer to be licensed in the state of California, Grant was the first Black civil engineer appointed at the City and County of San Francisco and worked in their water department from 1948 to his retirement in 1984.

Grant actively mentored Black and minority engineering students through his leadership in various organizations. Grant's friend and colleague Frederick E. Jordan has stated that "Howard Grant was a life success despite the odds, with a passion for doing what he could for his community."

Professional organizations
Grant served as President and Treasurer of the California Society of Professional Engineers.

In 1970, Grant hosted the first meeting of what would become the Northern California Council of Black Professional Engineers (NCCBPE), of which he served as president from 1971 to 1973.

In addition to founding the Engineering Societies Committee for Manpower Training, Grant also served as a Board member for Big Brothers, Hunter's Point Boy's Club, and the San Francisco Urban League's scholarship committee.