Thanks, Luv....he never went to college, but he was a survey supervisor for a section of the Alaska Pipeline. He helped get a section built. He was in Prudhoe Bay when the first drop of oil started down the pipeline, and in Valdez when the first drop reached Valdez, ready to head down to the lower 48.
He told a story about talking to some engineers who designed concrete saddles to help keep the pipe under water for river crossings. A group of dignitaries where watching and he said it wouldn’t work because xxxxx. As soon as the cranes were withdrawn, up popped the pipe. He enjoyed that story.
Sounds like he learned real life engineering.