Herman J. Hoose

Herman entered the traffic engineering profession in 1935.  Early in his career he served as Traffic Engineer and Highway Planner for the U. S. Corps of Engineers, Manhattan Project from 1942 to 1945.  After World War II, he served for several years as a municipal traffic engineer in Indiana.  In 1948, Herman was hired by the City of Charlotte as its first traffic engineer and served in that role and as Director of Traffic Engineering for some 30 years until his retirement in 1978.  Herman presided over 30 years of traffic operation improvements and transportation planning in Charlotte during a period when the city’s population  grew from 134,000 to 315,000.  During his tenure, Charlotte’s traffic engineering department was one of the preeminent in southeast United States.  Herman was an innovator, an advocate for safety, a mentor and a professional with integrity.  Herman had the courage to champion needed transportation improvements, and the wisdom and stamina to overcome obstacles encountered along the way to implementation.  He was keenly aware of the important role of politicians, the media, and the public in the formulation, acceptance and implementation of traffic improvements.

Herman served as the major catalyst for developing forums for traffic engineering in the southeastern United States.  He was a founding member of the Southern Safety Association the predecessor to the Southern Section of ITE.  Herman’s support of ITE and its sections is a major contributor to ITE’s success in the southeast.  He was dedicated to the transportation profession as evidenced by his active membership in and service to ITE for the past 55 years.  He served on numerous committees and was elected by his peers to president of the Southern Section and to Director on the International  Board.  ITE’s Southern District established the Herman J. Hoose Distinguished Service Award in 1972 in recognition of his many years of exemplary service.  In 1986, Herman was presented with the Theodore M. Matson Memorial Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field of traffic engineering.  Herman served on the National Joint Committee of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Today we congratulate Herman on his many years of service to the citizens of the City of Charlotte; Ft. Wayne, Toledo-Lucas County, Ohio; to the US. Corps of Engineers during World War II; and  to his fellow transportation professionals around the world.  We have all benefited from your tenacity, pioneering efforts, innovation, mentoring, and dedicated service.  Many of us have had the fortune to enjoy your stories, your humor, and your warm friendship. We also recognize your supporting partner in life who has stood beside your for these many years.  Edna Mae, thank you for sharing Herman with ITE’s family for these many years and for your active participation in the Institute.