The American Society of Civil Engineers has awarded engineer James G. Bell the ASCE Citizen Engineer Award for his contributions to the community through public involvement, public awareness and public service.

This award recognizes civil engineers who have volunteered their time to help others in their community, have influenced legislative affairs and have improved the image of civil engineers.

Bell will be honored at a joint ASCE/South Dakota Engineering Society meeting on Thursday, March 6, at noon at the Black Hills Business Development Center at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. The public is invited.

Lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. The cost for non-students is $7.50. Reservations will be taken by March 5 by phone at 343-9606 or e-mail at Kimg@rushmore.com

After the recognition ceremony, the ASCE Student Chapter will give presentations on the concrete canoe and the steel bridge. Students will be competing with these projects at the 2008 Rocky Mountain Regional Conference in Golden Colorado in April. After the membership meeting, everyone is invited to join the students for a tour of the laboratory where they work on these projects.

Bell became active with the Rapid City Jaycees and the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce in the early 1960s. He received the R.A. Pier Good Government Award in 1962 and served as president of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce in 1967 and 1968. He also received the Chamber's George Award in 1998.

He also served as president of the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce. He was on the state Board of Water and Natural Resources in the 1980s and early 1990s, including eight years as its chairman. Other work included service on the Rapid City Regional Airport Board, Rapid City's utility master planning project and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial Society.