Engineer builds on accomplishments

The graduate knew in eighth grade that he wanted to be an engineer.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gary Hilliard is no stranger to a challenge.
Since 1988, he has run thousands of miles in more than 100 marathon and endurance races, from the Big Sur Marathon on the Pacific Coast Highway to the historic Boston Marathon.
"The challenge is getting to that finish line," Hilliard, 48, said about the grueling runs. "It feels good."
Six years ago, Hilliard embarked on a similar challenge when he enrolled in the civil engineering program at Youngstown State University.
Got his degree
Last Saturday, Hilliard reached the finish line when he walked across the stage at Beeghly Center on the YSU campus and received his bachelor's degree.
"Running a marathon is like life," said Hilliard, who joined about 1,000 other graduates at the YSU commencement.
"You don't go out and just run 26 miles. You run from aid station to aid station. You break it down. In life, if you break it down by shorter segments, you can get through it. Stay on track. Anything can happen, and usually you can end up a success story."
Hilliard's 35-year marathon trek to become an engineer started when he was in junior high school in his hometown of Butler, Pa.
All eighth-graders were assigned to write a paper about what they wanted to do when they grew up. Hilliard's answer: An engineer.
"I didn't know then that there were all kinds of engineers," he recalled. "I just knew that I wanted to build buildings."
Ironworker
After graduating from Butler High School in 1973, he started working as an ironworker on construction projects ranging from bridges to buildings. Five years later, he moved to San Francisco, got married, joined the ironworkers union and continued his ironworking career, including work on many skyscrapers.
He moved back to Western Pennsylvania in 1993, and four years later decided to enroll at YSU.
"I had really reached the endpoint in ironworking," said Hilliard, who now lives on Youngstown's West Side with his wife, Pamela. "I was a supervisor. I wasn't really able to move any further unless I got my degree."
He has left his mark on YSU. He was named 2002 Civil Engineer of the Year and Man of the Year at the Rayen College of Engineering and Technology at YSU. He also is secretary of Tau Beta Phi, a civil engineering honor society.
"Going to school changed my life," said Hilliard, who will continue working in the construction industry after graduation.
"I will never be the same. I have a whole different level of confidence."