In Memoriam of H. Stanley Kelsay – A GRI Founder
In November 2023, GRI sadly lost one of GRI’s founders and company leaders, H. Stanley Kelsay. Stan left his legacy at GRI as the fiduciary leader helping to keep the company’s finances on track and flourishing. Through his guidance, GRI has grown since its founding days in 1984 to become one of the most successful geotechnical engineering firms in the Pacific Northwest.
Stan’s lifelong devotion to the engineering field began in 1966 when he was a construction engineer for the state of California. While enlisted in the U.S. Army, he worked for the Corps of Engineers in Alaska for 18 months, then continued his work for the state of California, moving to the Oregon State Highway Division in 1971. Prior to working as a principal and co-founder of GRI, Stan was a staff/project/senior engineer and associate at two local engineering firms (L.R. Squier Associates and Foundation Sciences, Inc.).
In addition to his dedication to GRI, Stan was a devoted family man and loved being outdoors (particularly fly fishing on the Deschutes River). He and his wife, Kathy, moved to their much-loved home in Maupin on the Deschutes River where he was able to enjoy the river on a daily basis and where he and Kathy became quite involved in local area events (particularly as members of the Southern Wasco County Library Foundation). Stan often volunteered his engineering knowledge and services toward the betterment of the Maupin-area community.
Stan was an active member in the following professional organizations where he spent his time helping to further develop the future of today’s engineers.
- American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE):
- ASCE Oregon Section Geotechnical Group, Chairman
- ASCE Oregon Section, President
- ASCE Oregon Section, Pacific Northwest Council, Secretary-Treasurer
- Deep Foundations Institute
- International Society of Soil Mechanic and Foundation Engineers
- American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), Oregon Section
- American Society of Foundation Engineers (ASFE)
- Business and Professional Practice Committee
In 2003, Stan was honored with ASCE Oregon Section’s Engineer of the Year and was inducted as an Oregon Section Life Member in 2008.
Stan is survived by his wife, Kathleen; daughter, Amelia; daughter-in-law, Sarah; and granddaughters, Maeve & Nora; as well as many additional family members and friends. In loving memory, we mourn the passing of Stan’s beloved son, Jeffrey, who preceded him in death in the spring of 2023.
