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Living Final Point Award by Warren
Smith, the president of
California Land Surveyors
By: Emily Pierce, PLS, CFedS Association (CLSA).
This award recognizes
I’m sure most surveyors significant contributions
have heard of the to the advancement of
“Final Point” program the surveying profession
created by Berntsen and/or the public that
International, Inc. and stands as a model
the National Society of of professionalism,
Professional Surveyors dedication, and
Foundation (NSPSF). It’s commitment of moral
a way to memorialize conduct by a professional
the work of beloved land surveyor.
surveyors who have
had a lasting impact Smith made a thousand-mile trip just to present Steve
on the profession, with this award, underscoring the impact Steve has had in
while supporting the the profession. A recent article in The Traverse, the NALS
future of surveying newsletter gives insight into how surveyors feel about Steve
through NSPS/Berntsen Parrish. A colleague, Carl C. DeBaca had this to say:
scholarships.
“Everybody knows Steve Parrish. He is eminently knowable. When
It’s a great program that provides the perfect memorial you shake his hand you get an accurate measure of the man, of
monument for surveyors who have passed – and now, for the that I am completely confident. . .
first time, surveyors who are still with us to enjoy the honor.
We throw around terms like “Last of a dying breed” or “Last of his
Last week, the Nevada Association of Land Surveyors (NALS) generation” all too often these days, cheapening the terms till they
memorialized living legend Steve Parrish on May 20, 2022. mean almost nothing, but in Steve’s case they are both true; totally,
After nearly 60 years surveying, Steve set his own final point thoroughly, irrevocably, undeniably true.
monument at Great Basin College in Elko, Nevada, where he
was a surveying instructor. It was fitting that the monument This man’s moral compass is exact, precise, and calibrated to
was set on the 237th Anniversary of The Land Ordinance of the thousandth of a second. Throughout his professional career,
1785 which was adopted by the United States Congress of the when he has taken on a task, his approach is to see it through to
Confederation on May 20, 1785. completion, do it right and cost be damned.”

Along with the final point installation, Steve was also Steve’s character reminds me very much of other surveyors I’ve
presented with the Dorothy Calegari - Distinguished Service written about – surveyors that include our founding fathers.

18 The Nevada Traverse Vol.49, No.2, 2022