With an infectious laugh and a wealth of information, David Coe is one of the well-known members of the community. In his time living in Chadron, he’s had is hand in a multitude of projects at the engineering level.
Coe explained he was a registered engineer but he dropped that registration Dec. 31, 2023, but the City of Chadron had a couple of projects in the works, one being the armor coating of Main Street from Third to 10th.
Coe recalled it was 2006 when he worked with the City to on the state-funded reworking of the street. Theoretically, he said, when those types of projects are done a seal coat should be put on every six years. Of course, he noted, that’s dependent on available funds. Prior to December 31, he did the design and specifications on the project, though it wasn’t contracted out until the spring of 2024.
“It finally got sealed again,” Coe said, “and that street has held up very nicely since 2006 . . . That’s a pretty good lifetime for a paving project.” He further added the concrete at Sixth and 10th on Main has also held up well.
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Coe was not only registered in Nebraska, but also in Colorado, Washington and South Dakota. He originally earned that registration in the late 1960’s, in Colorado. Though he took his testing in Colorado, he had to re-apply in every state to be registered.
He explained the only reason he did so in Washington is because he was approached by firms that required a registered engineer and one happened to have a project in Washington.
Before coming to Chadron in 1970, Coe lived in Durango, Colo. He worked with the Nebraska Forest Service, retiring in 2000. He’s raised his family here, he said, and his kids were educated in the Chadron school system. His sons Tim and Mike are now both electrical engineers. “They both got great education, right here in Chadron.”
In the years he’s been in the city, Coe said it’s been interesting to watch and be part of the development of Chadron. He spoke to working with former city manager Carl Dierks, who was also a registered. “He and I went to professional engineer meetings together.” Dierks would later leave the city manger position to practice privately, but later asked Coe to take over his projects in 2002.
Coe agreed, and his first job was the drive up facility at what is now Homestead Bank. Coe also took over the City engineering projects, but his work wasn’t limited to one entity. Soon, he had requests coming from Chadron State College, Chadron Public Schools and Dawes County Commissioners.
The 10th and Main entrance to CSC is one of Coe’s engineering projects, and he said the City of Chadron was so impressed with it they wanted similar designs at the city’s main three entry points. He also has the High Rise and Dawes County Courthouse elevator systems, street and water systems in the Kenwood area, various lift stations, the parking lot between the high school and the Chadron Aquatic Center and the Chadron Middle School parking lot among his work as an engineer.
Coe has plenty of free time now since he’s not as in demand, but has no plans to leave the area. “I’m going to die in Chadron,” he said. “They’re going to have to take me out horizontally from my home.” He plans to visit his sons in Denver and California, opting to drive rather than flying.
“I really have enjoyed Chadron. It’s a nice, laid back community.”
