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Living Legend – publishing, and regularly contributed commentaries, book reviews,
legislative reports and numerous thoughtfully written articles of
Terry W. McHenry, PLS genuine significance to the practicing surveyor, including pieces
on riparian boundaries, eminent domain and key practice pointers,
to name a few. He was also a contributor to Point Of Beginning
magazine, and the ACSM Bulletin.
Terry W. McHenry….. The 9 and longest Editor in NALS history!
th
Starting in January 1991 and finally retiring from the editor role in During Terry’s tenure, the magazine received several “Excellence in
December 2014. It was an amazing run that will never be matched Professional Journalism” awards from the NSPS. Over the years,
again. As the current Editor of The Nevada Traverse, I want to Terry himself has received awards from this organization, all of
THANK YOU, Terry for all your hard work and dedication to our them richly deserved. This award, for distinguished service, now
publication and to our profession. Not only did you help elevate recognizes his continual commitment to excellence, his expertise,
the profession, but you helped raise our Association to an award- patience, and all of that hard work as Editor. His efforts continued to
winning and nationally recognized publication! Mr. McHenry has make this magazine part of the bedrock of our state organization.
received several awards and honors for Terry’s contributions to the
surveying industry. Terry was named Surveyor of the Year by NALS Terry McHenry did a masterful job as Editor not only in collecting,
in 1991 and the Meritorious Service Award in 2008. Terry was also arranging and adding to the content, but correcting the otherwise
recognized for his work by winning the Article of the Year in both unfortunate writing of people like me, and we’re all grateful for
2005 and 2010. On behalf of ALL of the Nevada Association of Land it. Supreme Court Justice Louis Braneis once said that there was
Surveyors, past and present members, we THANK YOU, Terry. You no great writing, only great rewriting. Terry’s efforts as Editor can
truly are a Living Legend! certainly attest to that.

From Paul S. Pace, PLS Join with me in welcoming Terry McHenry.
Someone once said that “professional” is not a label you give to
yourself; rather, it is a description you hope others will apply to you. From Steve Parrish, PLS, CFedS
Dear Terry, Your service and contributions to our land surveying
During the course of our careers, we have the occasion to work with profession have benefited NALS and its members for decades.
certain colleagues, in our own group or from other firms or agencies, You have unselfishly served as Nevada Traverse Editor, legislative
whom we respect and readily think of as professionals. We may watchdog, expert witness, professional land surveyor, City of
interact with them to seek advice, or perhaps learn some ancient Reno Surveyor, and riparian expert. These are just a few of Terry’s
wisdom, or to share what information or knowledge we may have contributions.
with them. This is part of our obligation to the profession, of course,
but it can often transcend just our professional responsibility. Terry is a friend to everyone he meets and is a mentor to all who
seek your advice. Congratulations to a Genuine Living Legend!
These interactions are opportunities that can make us better
at what we do. And in the process, they can help to form From Matt Gingerich, PLS
acquaintances and friendships that can last for years. Terry congratulations on this recognition. You have tirelessly
dedicated your career to the advancement of our profession.
The individual we next honor is one of those persons with whom Not only as the long-standing Editor of the Traverse, but the
many of us have had the pleasure of working with, either in his contributions you made while surveying for the City of Reno. You
official capacity at the City of Reno, or in his avocation as Editor of had a lot of foresight to establish the vertical benchmark network,
the Nevada Traverse. He is indeed one of those individuals whom we and your work on riparian boundary’s especially the Truckee
all would call a true professional, in the highest and best sense of River was key. The series you wrote and published in the Nevada
the word. Traverse on riparian boundaries is a special resource to all of us.
Thank you so much for bestowing the notes to me, I am so honored
I am speaking, of course, about Terry McHenry, the now-former to have them as a resource.
Editor of the Nevada Traverse, the quarterly journal of the Nevada
Association of Land Surveyors. From Carl R. C.de Baca, PLS
Terry McHenry was the consummate magazine editor. He wrote
Terry’s career in surveying spans an amazing 50 years, something of with clarity and precision. He strove to keep the Nevada Traverse
a rarity these days. And for the last 35 of those years, he had been moving forward while keeping it well grounded in its tradition, and
an active NALS member. His first 10 years on that long road were in he did it for a lot of years. In so doing, Terry has become as much of
private practice. The next 27 years were at the City of Reno. He then an institution as his magazine ever was.
logged 10 more years as the principal in a consulting firm dealing
with land and water boundaries. After he retired from consulting, he Terry continued, year after year, stocking the Traverse with
devoted himself solely to the Traverse. He was the magazine’s Editor interesting topics and relevant information. He aired new issues
for a total of 24 years. side by side with opinion pieces and gave aspiring writers a place
to practice their trade. His edits were gentle and effective. And he
It is for those 24 years as Editor that we honor him today. Terry hove to a tight schedule, as if he had just checked his pocket watch
was the 8 Editor of the Traverse, taking over for Brett Lane in and the train would be leaving the station in precisely one minute.
th
1991. Over the decades each of his predecessors elevated the If you gave him something to publish, you had a deadline and that
quality and content of the publication, and Terry was no exception. was that.
He transitioned the magazine into the digital age, introduced color

14 The Nevada Traverse Vol.50, No.1, 2023