2009 Research Abroad Experiences for Undergraduates in Hydraulic Engineering

The PIRE Program at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of South Carolina (USC) is pleased to announce the Research Abroad Experience in Hydraulic Engineering Program for Summer 2009. The program is sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) project PIRE: .... more

Hamilton Lott, Jr.

Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Hamilton Lott, Jr. attended Georgia Tech for one year before transferring to USC-Columbia in 1969. He graduated in Civil Engineering in Spring 1972 and entered the Naval Officer’s Candidate School where he earned a commission in the Navy’s Civil Engineer Corps. In December 1975, he went to work as a Design Engineer for Vulcraft, a division of Nucor Corporation, located in Florence, SC. When he later transferred from design engineering to sales, he related, “Being at an open web steel joist manufacturer was the best of both worlds for me. I was heavily involved in construction projects, but I was also actively using my engineering knowledge.” In 1982, he became Engineering Manager at the Vulcraft plant in St. Joe, IN, responsible for the detailing, design and quality control inspections for the plant. The hours were long and challenges great, but he found the teamwork and positive attitude to be inspiring. In 1987, he was named General Manager of Nucor’s Vulcraft plant in Grapeland, TX. As General Manager, he was responsible for the sales, finance, engineering, production and shipping departments. A demanding yet rewarding position, he had the opportunity to interact with over 300 employees every day.

On January 1, 1988, Ham Lott received the title of Vice President of Nucor Corporation. “I will never forget the thrill of Ken Iverson, our CEO, calling me with the news!” Then five years later, Ham Lott and his wife, Barbara, eagerly jumped at the opportunity to move back to South Carolina as the General Manager of the Florence, SC plant. As Nucor continued to grow, new executive positions were added within the corporation. Mr. Lott was offered one of these new positions as Executive Vice President in Charlotte, NC in 1999. At Nucor today, Ham Lott is involved with the country’s largest open web steel joist manufacturer, the largest U.S. steel deck manufacturer, the third-largest U.S. pre-engineered metal building producer, and North America’s largest steel rebar fabricator and distributor.

Mr. Lott feels the education he received at the College of Engineering at USC is one of the cornerstones of success he has had in the business world. He told us, “I take great pride in the fact that I am a graduate of this University, and I am thoroughly enjoying becoming reconnected with the College of Engineering and Computing.” Speaking of his life and career with Nucor, Ham Lott told us, “To put it mildly, it has been a wonderful ride!”