Jump to navigation Company Profile Practice Areas Bid Info Clients News Careers Contact History Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates, Inc. (EHRA) has been serving the Houston area for 85 years. Edminster Engineering began as a small engineering firm founded in 1936 by Truman C. Edminster, Sr. Subsequent founding partners Conrad Hinshaw and R. Terry Russ joined the firm in 1969 and 1978 respectively to establish the current company namesake. Ownership of the firm has transferred over the years from the founding partners through their families. Under the guidance of Truman C. Edminster, III, P.E. and James B. Russ, EHRA has become an employee owned company, which will ensure the firm’s continuous operation for the next 85 years and beyond. THE EARLY YEARS 1906 – 1920’s Truman Edminster, Sr. travels the world and working as a surveyor. At one point Edminster, Sr. worked on the first railroad built in the Philippines. Eventually he settled in Houston, Texas and met Mable Ida Holt and they married in 1910. Edminster, Sr. began working for the City of Houston as a surveyor in the Public Works Department. 1878 Truman C. Edminster, Sr. born on a farm just outside Leavenworth, Kansas 1906 - 1908 Truman Edminster, Sr. travels the world and works as a surveyor on the first railroad built in the Philippines. 1909 TC Edminster, Sr. comes to Houston, Texas and works for the City of Houston in the Public Works Department as a surveyor. 1923 TC Edminster, Jr. born. THE LEGACY BEGINS 1930’s – 1950’s After working for the City of Houston for many years, Truman Edminster, Sr. decides to start his own business and opens Edminster Engineering off of Smith and McGowen St. This was the beginning of a true family business and founding of what would ultimately become EHRA Engineering. 1935 Robert Terry Russ, Jr. born. 1936 TC Edminster, Sr. opens Edminster Engineering off of Smith and McGowen St. 1940 TC Edminster Jr. enters Texas A&M University (Class of 1944). 1941 TC Edminster Jr. voted into Texas A&M University’s Ross Volunteers - a company of elite Corps of junior and senior cadets chosen on a basis of honor, humility, and character. 1942-1943 Truman C. Edminster, Jr. is inducted into the U.S. Army and becomes 1st Lieutenant stationed in southern France. While there, Truman meets and marries Virginia (Johnnie) Johnson, who is also stationed in Marseilles, France as a 1st Lieutenant and Army Nurse. 1947 Edminster Engineering moves office to “Optical Building” off of Kirby Dr. 1948 Truman C. Edminster, Sr. passes away; Truman C. Edminster, Jr. takes over at 24 years old. 1950 Terry Russ, Jr. delivers papers for the Houston Chronicle during the summer. 1952 Truman C. Edminster, Jr. gets P.E.; Reg. No. 9949 Terry Russ, Jr. begins working for TCE, Jr. in the evenings and summers. Edminster Engineering moves office to 2610 Sunset Blvd. 1953 Terry Russ, Jr. graduates from Lamar High School. 1955 Truman C. Edminster, III. is born. 1957 Terry Russ, Jr. enters the service and is stationed in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. 1958 Terry Russ, Jr. resumes education and begins attending night school at the University of Houston. COMPANY GROWTH 1960’s - 1970’s In the years following the end of WWII, Houston’s economy was still recovering from the war time support. As a result, Edminster Engineering was very close to closing the doors. However the boom of subdivisions in the Houston area, such as Forest Cove and Indian Shores, brought the company back from the brink and began growing the company. 1960 After the war ended, Houston’s economy was still recovering from the war time support. As a result, Edminster Engineering was very close to closing the doors. A boom of subdivisions, such as Forest Cove and Indian Shores, sustained and began growing the company. 1963 Subdivision work is booming in Houston and Edminster Engineering moves office to 2727 Kirby Dr. to keep up with the growing personnel. 1964 Jim Russ is born. Terry Russ becomes a Registered Professional Land Surveyor; Reg. No. 1485 1968 Edminster Engineering merges with friendly rival, Conrad Hinshaw & Associates. Company name changes to Edminster, Hinshaw and Associates, Inc. Terry Russ, Jr. runs the survey and business side of the company, while TCE, Jr. and Hinshaw run the engineering side. 1969 Edminster, Hinshaw and Associates, Inc. moves into Post Oak Tower in The Galleria. At this time, the mall and ice skating rink were still under construction. 1970 Truman Edminster Jr. passes away; Conrad Hinshaw and Terry Russ (35 yrs old) take over. 1971 Terry Russ, Jr. and Conrad Hinshaw founds a partnership; establishing Russ/Hinshaw Surveying Company. 1972 Russ/Hinshaw Surveying Company opens new location, 1369 Spears Rd. 1974 In partnership with Marvin Leggett, EHRA develops and moves offices into Regency Square Commercial Park. This was Marvin Leggett’s first commercial building. 1976 Truman C. Edminster, III receives a Bachelor of Science from The University of Oklahoma. 1978 Truman C. Edminster, III receives a MBA in Business Administration from The University of Texas at Austin. THE NEXT GENERATION 1980’s – 1990’s In the mid 80’s the Savings and Loan Crisis begins to show effects on Houston’s economy. Between 1986 and 1991, the number of new homes constructed per year dropped from 1.8 million to 1 million, which was at the time the lowest rate since World War II. However Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates, Inc endures. Then, in 1989, sensing a shift in Houston’s growth, EHRA purchases current location, 10555 Westoffice Drive. The Spears Rd. survey office is sold and all operations are moved into one building. 1981-1983 Jim Russ works summers in EHRA’s survey department under Charles Kennedy, Sr. 1984 Conrad Hinshaw retires and Terry Russ, Jr. becomes President of the Firm and 100% stockholder. 1985 Truman Edminster, III receives his P.E.; Reg. No. 56673. 1986 Savings and Loan Crisis shows effects on Houston’s economy, however Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates, Inc endures. Between 1986 and 1991, the number of new homes constructed per year dropped from 1.8 million to 1 million, which was at the time the lowest rate since World War II. 1989 Sensing a shift in Houston’s growth, EHRA purchases current location, 10555 Westoffice Drive. Spears Rd. office is sold and all operations are moved into one building. Company name changes to Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ, Standley Inc. as Bart Standley is brought on board. 1998 Jim Russ is brought into the firm. 1999 Terry Russ, Jr. buys out Bart Standley’s ownership of the engineering company and changes name back Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ, and Associates, Inc. Truman Edminster III is brought into the firm. ENGINEERING THE FUTURE 2000’s – Present In the mid 2000’s, Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates, Inc. was stronger than ever. Truman C. Edminster, III (3rd Generation) and Jim B. Russ (4th Generation had both become shareholders in 2005. The company celebrated its 70th year in operation in 2006. Terry Russ, Jr. retired in 2007 and sold his shares to Jim Russ and Truman Edminster, III. Then in 2008 Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates, Inc. formed their Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and Trust engineering a plan that has set up the once family owned company, for the next generation of ownership. 2000 EHRA opens the Hydrology and Hydraulics department. 2004-2005 EHRA purchases 10445 Westoffice Drive (Building 2). EHRA purchases 10448 Westoffice Drive (Building 3). 2005 Jim Russ and Truman Edminster, III become shareholders. 2006 Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates, Inc. celebrates its 70th year in operation. 2007 Terry Russ, Jr. retires after 55 years and sells his shares to Jim Russ and Truman Edminster III. 2008 Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates, Inc. forms Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust. 2008 Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates, Inc. opens the Traffic department. 2010 ESOP’s first stock purchase. EHRA’s Low Impact Development Team wins First Place in Houston’s Suburban Residential Competition. 2011 EHRA’s Low Impact Development Team successfully designs and permits the first single family residential subdivision utilizing Low Impact Development in the City of Houston Jim Russ is elected to the board of the Houston Contractors Association. Truman Edminster, III is appointed to the City of Houston Planning Commission. 2013 Company rebrands from Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates, Inc. to EHRA Engineering, Inc. 2021 EHRA celebrates its 85th Anniversary Email © EHRA