Trailblazer and glass-ceiling shatterer Leah Moncure, the first female engineer licensed in Texas, is soon to be commemorated in Bastrop County with a new historical marker, a recognition meant to fill the spaces in our historical narrative where the stories of pioneering women like Moncure have been overlooked, as reported by Texas Department of Transportation.
Back in 1938, Moncure embarked on a path that was then less traveled by women, earning her professional engineering license and beginning a 32-year career with the Texas Highway Department, contributing to projects in research, right-of-way and road design in Houston, Austin, Beaumont, and Lufkin. Her groundbreaking tenure set the stage not only for the more than 300 female engineers who now contribute their expertise to Texas Department of Transportation, but also for a broader acceptance and recognition of the vital role women play in engineering and the sciences.
The commemorate marker, part of the Texas Historical Commission's ‘Undertold’ program aimed at promoting diversity and chronicling less-known but significant stories, is set to be unveiled in January 2025 as a tribute to Moncure’s enduring legacy, according to Texas Department of Transportation. This initiative reinforces the importance of representing a more inclusive history, especially in fields traditionally dominated by men.
Bearing the torch of Moncure's groundbreaking spirit, Diana Schulze, who became Texas Department of Transportation's first female chief engineer in Bastrop and who also hails from Moncure's hometown, has stated, “I think it’s pretty neat that we both have ties to Bastrop County,” and followed up by highlighting the importance of continuing to honor Moncure's legacy, being itself a clarion call for ongoing progress, Schulze will share her insights and experiences at the marker dedication on Jan. 13 which by no means is a simple nod to the past but a steadfast commitment to encouraging the next wave of female engineers; under her mentorship, many are already blossoming on her staff at Texas Department of Transportation.
"There’s no reason that upcoming female engineers can’t be successful like Leah and many others before them,” Schulze mentioned, exemplifying an ethos of possibility and strength in her remarks shared by Texas Department of Transportation. As an advocate for the future generations, Schulze carries forward the legacy of Moncure, ensuring her story remains not just a chapter in the history books but a living, evolving narrative shaping the future of engineering in Texas.
The historical marker, when placed outside Moncure's childhood home, will serve as both a testament to her individual accomplishments and a beacon for the dreams of young women who look upon engineering not as a field beyond their reach, but as a realm where their potential can be fully realized and their contributions lauded, echoing Moncure's journey from a time when her achievements were an exception to a future where they are the expectation.
