Raymond G. Alvine was a mechanical engineer who strived to be the very best engineer, business owner, and leader he could be for over four decades. He was a first-generation immigrant from Paris, France who with his mother, immigrated in 1926 as a widowed, soon-to-be single mother of Raymond. Raymond grew up with his mother and two siblings in very poor and difficult conditions, in Burlington, Iowa. At the age of 17, Raymond enlisted in the Army Air Corps, with the hope of becoming a military pilot, and the dream of going to college as a veteran on the GI Bill. He achieved his dream of obtaining a college degree in mechanical engineering from Iowa State University, and was the first in his family’s lineage to attend college.
With a wife and nine children, and just enough savings for six months, Raymond started Raymond G. Alvine and Associates in 1961. The firm flourished under his guidance and foundational values. During his career, Raymond achieved many milestones and was acknowledged through many accolades and awards. His final professional achievement, recognized in 2022, when he was posthumously awarded ASHRAE’s highest award, induction into the Hall of Fame. In its century long existence, AHSRAE has inducted only 48 individuals into its Hall of Fame.
He was also founding member and Past President of the American Consulting Engineers Council/Nebraska (ACEC/N). Alvine was named a Fellow in Automated Procedures for Engineering Consultants (APEC) and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The Iowa Alpha Chapter of the Tau Beta Pi Association inducted him as Eminent Engineer. In addition, Alvine was listed in “Who’s Who in the Midwest” and “Who’s Who in Engineering.” Alvine and Associates was the recipient of the National Society of Processional Engineers 1993 National Honor Award for the design of the Lied Jungle at Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo.