Active 5 years, 7 months ago
1943-2024
Keith D. Dodson
As the members of the National Academy of Construction (NAC) celebrate the Academy’s Silver Jubilee it is appropriate to reflect on its charter members – one of whom, D. Keith Dodson, passed away in January 2024 at the age of 80. The NAC selects and honors exceptional industry leaders with a bias for action, and there are no better words to describe Keith.
Like his fellow charter members, Keith had long been dedicated to the principle that a professional life well-lived was driven by service to others. And the ability, commitment, and energy he brought to this mission was manifest, not only by his track record of executive leadership, but also in the many years and diverse ways he contributed to the profession and the community.
A proud fifth-generation Texan, Keith grew up in Honey Grove, TX, where his father was superintendent of schools and his mother a schoolteacher. His combined interests in engineering and business led him to the University of Texas where he majored in its Engineering Route to Business program, graduating in 1966. Unusual at the time, this dual path was the foundation of his career trajectory as he rapidly advanced up the engineering ranks to serve many years as an executive business leader. His commitment to service was apparent at U.T. where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, a campus organization founded in 1883 and committed to campus life, academic excellence, and fostering leadership, character, and service.
Keith began his construction industry career immediately upon graduation when he joined Brown & Root and began working on project teams around the world. Rising rapidly, he became President, International Land Operations Division, and also served as President and CEO of the US Petroleum and Chemicals Division. These successes led to executive leadership roles at other major contractors including CEO of M.W. Kellogg Company, President of M.W. Kellogg London, Managing Director of Dresser Kellogg Energy, Senior Vice President of Stone & Webster Engineering, and, finally, President of Petrofac USA. Never one to sit in the office, even when serving in executive roles Keith continued to be actively engaged in major projects on every continent (except Antarctica), never losing his deep understanding of the construction workplace and the challenges faced by those who serve in direct labor and supervision.
Keith also found time to further his management education, completing the Advanced Management Program at Rice University and receiving an MBA from the University of Houston.
After stepping down from his role at Petrofac, Keith began the last phase of his career – using his knowledge and experience to assist other leaders via consulting services with Westney Consulting Group, Inc. and McKinsey & Company, Inc.
In spite of the demands of executive leadership, Keith’s dedication to service to the industry never wavered. Few people have such a track record, consisting not only of membership in key professional associations but top leadership roles as well. In addition to being a charter member of NAC, he served on the Engineering Council at the University of Texas (including a term as Chairman), on the Board of Directors of the Construction Industry Institute (including a term as Chairman of the Executive Committee), on the Board of Directors of the Engineering & Construction Contracting Association (ECC), and also the Greater Houston Partnership’s World Trade Division.
Deeply connected to his Texas roots, Keith’s most cherished project was developing “The Dodson Farm” on land his family acquired in 1852 when they left Tennessee for Texas. Though he did take advantage of modern technology, using his tractor, when necessary, Keith never forgot how his great grandfather cleared the land with an ox and an axe, and so he did things with his own hands whenever possible. Again, inspired by his Texas heritage, Keith was an avid outdoorsman with a particular love for all forms of fishing. In addition to time spent wade fishing in Matagorda Bay, he built a lake at The Dodson Farm which he kept stocked with bass in order to share his love of the sport with his children and grandchildren. He was also a long-time, faithful member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston.
Keith’s memory is cherished, not only by colleagues and friends, but by his loving wife of 55 years, Johnette Foster Dodson; his children, son Marshall Dodson, his wife Aimee, and their children, Bailey Dodson and her fiancée Kingsley Smith, Barrett Dodson, and Benjamin Dodson; and daughter Chandos Dodson Epley, her husband Ike Epley, and their children, John Isaac, Jr., and Ila Keith Epley.
― Dick Westney, 2024
Like his fellow charter members, Keith had long been dedicated to the principle that a professional life well-lived was driven by service to others. And the ability, commitment, and energy he brought to this mission was manifest, not only by his track record of executive leadership, but also in the many years and diverse ways he contributed to the profession and the community.
A proud fifth-generation Texan, Keith grew up in Honey Grove, TX, where his father was superintendent of schools and his mother a schoolteacher. His combined interests in engineering and business led him to the University of Texas where he majored in its Engineering Route to Business program, graduating in 1966. Unusual at the time, this dual path was the foundation of his career trajectory as he rapidly advanced up the engineering ranks to serve many years as an executive business leader. His commitment to service was apparent at U.T. where he was a member of the Kappa Alpha Order, a campus organization founded in 1883 and committed to campus life, academic excellence, and fostering leadership, character, and service.
Keith began his construction industry career immediately upon graduation when he joined Brown & Root and began working on project teams around the world. Rising rapidly, he became President, International Land Operations Division, and also served as President and CEO of the US Petroleum and Chemicals Division. These successes led to executive leadership roles at other major contractors including CEO of M.W. Kellogg Company, President of M.W. Kellogg London, Managing Director of Dresser Kellogg Energy, Senior Vice President of Stone & Webster Engineering, and, finally, President of Petrofac USA. Never one to sit in the office, even when serving in executive roles Keith continued to be actively engaged in major projects on every continent (except Antarctica), never losing his deep understanding of the construction workplace and the challenges faced by those who serve in direct labor and supervision.
Keith also found time to further his management education, completing the Advanced Management Program at Rice University and receiving an MBA from the University of Houston.
After stepping down from his role at Petrofac, Keith began the last phase of his career – using his knowledge and experience to assist other leaders via consulting services with Westney Consulting Group, Inc. and McKinsey & Company, Inc.
In spite of the demands of executive leadership, Keith’s dedication to service to the industry never wavered. Few people have such a track record, consisting not only of membership in key professional associations but top leadership roles as well. In addition to being a charter member of NAC, he served on the Engineering Council at the University of Texas (including a term as Chairman), on the Board of Directors of the Construction Industry Institute (including a term as Chairman of the Executive Committee), on the Board of Directors of the Engineering & Construction Contracting Association (ECC), and also the Greater Houston Partnership’s World Trade Division.
Deeply connected to his Texas roots, Keith’s most cherished project was developing “The Dodson Farm” on land his family acquired in 1852 when they left Tennessee for Texas. Though he did take advantage of modern technology, using his tractor, when necessary, Keith never forgot how his great grandfather cleared the land with an ox and an axe, and so he did things with his own hands whenever possible. Again, inspired by his Texas heritage, Keith was an avid outdoorsman with a particular love for all forms of fishing. In addition to time spent wade fishing in Matagorda Bay, he built a lake at The Dodson Farm which he kept stocked with bass in order to share his love of the sport with his children and grandchildren. He was also a long-time, faithful member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Houston.
Keith’s memory is cherished, not only by colleagues and friends, but by his loving wife of 55 years, Johnette Foster Dodson; his children, son Marshall Dodson, his wife Aimee, and their children, Bailey Dodson and her fiancée Kingsley Smith, Barrett Dodson, and Benjamin Dodson; and daughter Chandos Dodson Epley, her husband Ike Epley, and their children, John Isaac, Jr., and Ila Keith Epley.
― Dick Westney, 2024
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