The Southwest Penns Section was envisioned by Mr. Claude E. Bradley, Maintenance Superintendent for the Pennsylvania Department of Highways, Fayette County in late 1962. He discussed with his co-workers and business associates within his Maintenance District the initiation of an ASHE Section comprising District 12.

ASHE Chapter No. 5 was issued on January 25, 1963 with Mr. Bradley as its first President, Mr. William ‘Bud’ Moyer – 1st Vice President, Mr. George Jenkins – Secretary and Mr. James Croshure – Treasurer. The early members were primarily maintenance personnel, material vendors and road contractors performing work in District 12. Initially, they met socially on a regular basis for dinner meetings. The engineering staff in the District 12 Office and consultant engineers then learned of the Organization, and the membership base grew significantly through the late 1960’s and 1970’s. Programs at the meetings were presented by State Transportation Officials, our National Presidents and leaders in their respective technical fields.

In 1967, a Christmas Dinner Dance was then added to the agenda that offered the ladies a special night out. A live band offered music for listening and dancing. Later this Dinner Dance was moved to celebrate Valentine’s Day, and this event has continued through the years.

A Summer Picnic was then added to the agenda in 1971 and has been held annually in August. This started as an outdoor steak fry at a park in the Laurel Highlands mountains. In recent years, it was combined with a golf outing and held at the Colonial Golf Course, Uniontown, PA and Linden Hall in Perryopolis, PA. Golf enthusiasts would start the warm summer afternoon with a round of golf and end with a full course steak dinner, cooked by the membership, on an outdoor grill. This has become our most popular event usually drawing 120-130 members.

In 1985, an annual Golf Outing was held in May that offered our golf enthusiasts an opportunity to complete in member foursomes. A dinner follows and prizes are presented winning teams. This event has been carried through the years at Donegal Highlands Golf Course.

Some of our highlight activities are as follows:

A Past Presidents Banquet, celebrating 30 years as a Section was held in 1994. It was held at the Uniontown Country Club, Uniontown, PA. and afforded the newer officers an opportunity to gain wisdom from our leaders of yesterday.

An annual meeting is held at the end of May at Stone Villa Winery to elect officers and to award scholarships. S.W. Penn has been awarding an annual Scholarship to local student who is enrolled in Civil Engineering and at a junior status since 2000.

The Section co-sponsored the 1969 National Convention with the Pittsburgh Section held in Seven Springs, PA. The Section also sponsored the 1978 National Convention held at Lakeview Country Club, Morgantown, WV and the 1989 National Convention held at the Holiday Uniontown, PA. Most recently, the Section hosted the 2001 National Conference held at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Champion, PA.