Distinguished Engineer
Hometown: Raymond
Civil Engineering,
James L. Mann began his engineering career working on the Fort Randall Dam Project for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following his graduation from South Dakota State College. In 1954, he joined Western Contracting and in 1957 he became associated with S.J. Groves and Sons as an estimator and project engineer. Through various project assignments, Mann was ultimately transferred to S.J. Groves and Sons main office in Minneapolis, where he was named vice president and chief engineer over all U.S. regional offices and later became the vice president of operations. In 1984, S.J. Groves and Sons became a holding company for various subsidiaries, including the construction companies. Mann assumed the role of corporate vice president in charge of construction technology and planning with management responsibilities for overseas operations until his retirement in 1985. He later assumed the role of president of Green Holding Co., a parent conglomerate of construction companies, with headquarters in Dallas. Mann was recognized as a national leader in the construction industry.