Claude Lessig, PE, shown in GRW's offices. At right he helps cut the ribbon during an opening celebration in 1972 at the firm's Tates Creek location.GRW is mourning the loss of one of GRW’s founding leaders, Claude Lessig. A water resources engineer and GRW senior vice president, Mr. Lessig became the fifth employee of GRW in 1965. He died May 25 at his home in Lexington, KY.
Mr. Lessig played an important role in the early years of GRW, working as a water resources engineer, and cultivating some of the firm's first key client relationships. He worked closely with GRW's second president Lyle Wolf in expanding and diversifying GRW's services.
In addition to his service with GRW, Mr. Lessig was a member of the United States Army Reserves called up with the 100th Division. Among his fellow service members was the late William Montgomery, father of GRW's current president Brad Montgomery.
In 1983, the Kentucky Engineering Center's Kentucky Engineer magazine, ran a lengthy article about GRW. Mr. Lessig and several additional GRW leaders were quoted throughout the article.
His passion for his work and pride in the high quality service GRW provides to clients was evident throughout. For example, Mr. Lessig said, “A solid testimonial to a company’s reputation is client longevity … "GRW is big enough to handle just about any size project, but we're still small enough to provide the kind of personal service that huge companies simply can't offer."
According to Mr. Lessig’s obituary in the Lexington Herald-Leader, he was a member of the Oleika Shrine Temple, Mason Lodge #1 and former board member of the Nathaniel Mission. Mr. Lessig is fondly remembered for playing guitar and singing with family and friends. Memorial contributions may be made to Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida 33607.