MSE News

Robert Jebson Inducted into
Academy of Engineering Excellence

Culpeper’s Bob Jebson receives Virginia Tech’s highest engineering honors
Lynn A. Nystrom

BLACKSBURG, May 5, 2005 -- Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering bestowed its highest alumni honor on Robert Jebson, a 1956 metallurgical engineering graduate, inducting him into its Academy of Engineering Excellence.
Jebson began his career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and moved to Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company. After that, he spent 16 years employed with Westinghouse Electric Corporation. During his employment with Westinghouse, he led the company’s entry into the manufacturing of water quality equipment, moving the Infilco Division of Westinghouse to Culpeper.

After relocating to Culpeper, Jebson saw the need for a professional service company with the ability to operate and maintain water and wastewater systems. So in 1973, Jebson’s vision developed into his own company, Environmental Systems Service, a professional service company with a supporting environmental laboratory.

ESS soon expanded its operations by testing milk products for the dairy industry. Since the dairy industry is one of the most regulated, almost every ounce of milk produced is tested before it enters the food supply. When a customer enters almost any Safeway, Giant or 7-Eleven store in Maryland, Virginia or Pennsylvania, chances are that Jebson’s company performed some of the testing that ensures the quality of the products.

Today, after more than 30 years, the company has remained privately owned and successful. Jebson opened a second facility in Bedford, Va., in 1978, followed by another in Maryland in 1979, and a fourth laboratory was opened in Winston-Salem, N.C. in 1992. Country Water Systems, another division of ESS, was established in 1987 to specifically serve customers with water quality issues. Its client association includes Fortune 500 companies, as well as the small independent producers and all business levels in between.

Even though Jebson is semi-retired today, his son, Craig, and daughter, Karen, remain with the business, playing significant roles in the management of the company.

Over the years Jebson has assumed more than his share of civic responsibilities. He has served as the Rotary Club President, and on several community bank boards. He worked diligently with economic development personnel to bring in more industry and expand the tax base. He chaired the hospital board on more than one occasion, and was instrumental in fostering a relationship between Culpeper Regional Hospital and the University of Virginia Health Services Center for certain aspects of quality care. He has also devoted time to the Culpeper County Chamber of Commerce and the Culpeper Presbyterian Church. In 1995, Jebson was awarded the distinguished L.B.Henretty Award for outstanding community service.

Jebson’s wife, Chris, shares his enthusiasm for their community. She has volunteered for a variety of community-oriented projects, one of which has been helping to provide citizens with an outstanding library. She was also a leading force in developing the annual “Lights of Love” fundraiser at Culpeper Regional Hospital.

The Jebsons are supporters of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering, joining its Committee of 100 within a few years of its inception.