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Surveyor group honors late David Halverstadt

Jon Halverstadt, Ann Besch (who accepted an award for her husband, Thomas “Mike” Besch) and Graham Ewing accept the Surveyor of the Past award for David Halverstadt from the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio. (Submitted photo)

LISBON– After years of owning a local surveying company, David Halverstadt, who died of cancer in 2015 at the age of 68, was awarded the Surveyors of the Past Award from the Professional Land Surveyors of Ohio for his work at Halverstadt Surveying.

During Halverstadt’s 40 years of surveying in the county, he continued to update technology, owning the first GPS equipment in the area. As owner of Halverstadt Surveying, he performed star shots to establish true north for the satellite of a local newspaper publishing company. The company performed many projects, including the layout of a horse racing track, coal washing facility, hospital and thousands of road, farm and home surveys.

Halverstadt began his career working for county chief surveyor Bryan Cox under then county engineer John Ursu and continued as a surveyor under current county engineer Bert Dawson until 1972. After he left the county, he worked for a local surveying company before opening Halverstadt Surveying in 1974.

Family was very important to Halverstadt, who served as the county commissioner for eight years and as a member of the county election board. He worked with his brother Kim for 40 years and employed his nephew Graham Ewing as part of the field crew.

“Dave was a huge reason why I became so passionate about surveying,” Ewing said. “He and Kim introduced it to me, and Dave knew all there is to know about it. He taught the old-school skills that aren’t around anymore, and I’m just thankful some of that was passed on to me.”

DAVID HALVERSTADT

He earned his associates degree after attending Kent State School of Technology and Youngstown State University and earned his professional surveyor license from Ohio in 1974. He also earned his Pennsylvania and West Virginia licenses. Born in Salem and growing up in Lisbon, Halverstadt was a lifelong resident of Columbiana County. He had two sons, David Jr. and Jon, before marrying Rebecca, his wife of 28 years.

slendak@mojonews.com

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