Leah Moncure

Leah Moncure (June 7, 1904 - January 17, 1972) was the first woman licensed as a professional engineer in the state of Texas, the first female engineer to work for the Texas Highway Department (TxDOT) and the first female life member of the National Society of Professional Engineers.

In January 2025, the Texas Historical Commission honored Moncure with a historical marker in front of her former longtime residence in Bastrop, Texas.

Early life and education

One of four daughters, Moncure was born in Bastrop to Cassius Lee (C.L.) Moncure and Hattie Nuckols Moncure. Her father was Bastrop County surveyor and a civil engineer.

At a young age, Leah was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that led doctors to predict she would not survive childhood. She would prove them wrong. She showed an early interest in her father's profession, learning about the equipment and practices of the surveying trade. Following graduation, she was hired to teach math at a Houston junior high school.

After a year of teaching and still determined to find work in engineering, she applied for a position with consultants Howe & Wise. The firm, which had just been awarded a three-year contract to construct county roads, brought Moncure onboard.

Outside of her profession, she was an avid fisherman, symphony lover and member (and one time president) of the Austin Altrusa Club.

Historical marker

Moncure's historical marker was dedicated on January 13, 2025, at her former home on Main St. in Bastrop. The plaque is part of Texas Historical Commission’s "Undertold" program designed to "address historical gaps, promote diversity of topics and proactively document significant underrepresented subjects or untold stories." The event was hosted by the King's Highway Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), which was instrumental in obtaining the marker, and the Bastrop County Historical Commission.