John Frederick Landgraf was born September 20, 1950, in Silsbee, Texas, to Jean and Lester Landgraf. He is the eldest of seven children. After having graduated from Silsbee High School in 1969, he attended Texas A&M University and obtained a degree in Civil Engineering and a commission in the United States Army in 1973. Mr. Landgraf received many awards and recognitions while in the Corps of Cadets and a student at Texas A&M University.
John went to work for the consulting engineering firm of Schrickel, Rollins and Associates, Inc. in Arlington after completing Army commitments in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. While at SRA, John gained valuable work experience in the design of residential and commercial development projects as well as municipal projects. In 1978 he moved to Odessa to take a position with the Public Works Department with the City of Odessa. In 1979 John and Murray A. Crutcher, Jr. formed the consulting engineering firm of Landgraf, Crutcher & Associates, Inc. to serve the West Texas region, and from 1982 to 1989, the metroplex area with an office in Dallas.
As President and Vice-President of LCA, John has been the principal in charge of residential community projects spanning thousands of acres, as well as commercial land developments, water and wastewater treatment plants, large paving and drainage projects, landfills and large ranch surveys. John has served as a member and officer of many technical organizations. He was a past Branch President of the West Texas Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Chapter Director of Permian Basin Chapter of TSPE and a member of NSPE, Professional Engineers in Private Practice and the Texas Society of Professional Surveyors. John maintains current registration as a Professional Engineer as well as a Professional Land Surveyor.
During his professional career, John has received several honors, including Young Engineer of the Year 1982 and Outstanding Engineer of the Year 1992 for the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, Permian Basin Chapter; Outstanding Young Men of America 1978 and 1986; Rising Star of Texas by Texas Business Magazine, 1987; Who’s Who in the South and Southwest, 1988; Boss of the Year – American Business Women’s Association Black and Gold Chapter, 1988; Odessa Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame, 1999; Heritage of Odessa Foundation Community Service, 1995; and Outstanding Citizen of the Year, 2004.
John spends much of his time in service to his community, his church and higher education. He has served as President and Board Member of Odessa Cultural Council, Odessa Optimist Club, Odessa Chamber of Commerce, Ector County Emergency Committee District and Main Street Odessa. He has served as campaign chairman of the local March of Dimes, the Oil Barons’, Odessa United Way, Texas Commerce Bank of Odessa Board of Directors and the Texas Assembly of Art Councils Board of Directors.
Not only has he continued to serve his alma mater, Texas A&M University, he has contributed many hours of time to other educational endeavors. John serves or has served on the Texas A&M System Chancellor’s Century Council Advisory Committee, the George Bush Presidential Library Committee at TAMU, the 12th Man Foundation Board of Directors, and the Associates of Former Students of Texas A&M University. He has also served on the Corps of Cadets Development Council at TAMU, president of the local A&M Club serving as the West Texas Area Representative of the Association of Former Students. His other educational interest include serving on the President’s Advisory Council for the University of Texas Permian Basin, the Board of Visitors at the McDonald Observatory, and the Adult Literacy Council Board of Directors. He chaired a division of the Superintendent’s Strategic Planning Committee for Ector County Independent School District and has served as Vice-President of the Education Foundation.
John also served on the Board of Directors of the Permian Basin Area Foundation and was past President of the Board of Trustees of Permia Care. He also served as President of St. Mary’s Parish Council and has served on various committees, including the Parish Council at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. He also served as Assistant Scoutmaster for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s Troop 77.
John is married to Beverly and they have three children, Mary Louise, Brooks, and Elizabeth, and six beautiful grandchildren.