County honors engineer with first-ever public works award

EVERETT — Owen Carter has kept on inspiring others, even as his road has grown difficult.

Whether overseeing road construction or showing support for snow-plow crews in a storm, Snohomish County’s deputy public works director has earned a reputation for hard work and good cheer. Those who know Carter say those qualities are unwavering, even when things aren’t going so well.

As he continued a long struggle with brain cancer Tuesday, elected officials and co-workers gathered to speak of their respect —even love — for a dedicated public servant.

“We’re here today to honor a model employee who is really an inspiration to everybody that’s ever worked with him, Owen Carter,” County Executive Dave Somers said. “Owen is one of those people who is loved by all those who know and work with him.”

Carter remained at home in Lake Stevens, unable to make it to Everett to receive the inaugural Snohomish County Public Works Professional Achievement Award. The first-ever recipient sets a high bar.

Public Works director Steve Thomsen praised Carter as a “mentor to staff with an inspiring attitude.”

“He’s always there to build office morale, comes with a positive attitude and lots of encouragement to staff,” Thomsen said.

Carter graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in civil engineering. In 24 years at the county, he’s supervised hundreds of projects as an engineer, manager, advisor, reviewer and problem-solver, Thomsen said. His career also includes stints as a state Department of Transportation engineer and Marysville city engineer.

County Council Chairman Brian Sullivan first met Carter as a teenager, when they were both accomplished wrestlers for opposing high schools. Carter attended Lake Stevens High, Sullivan Mariner High. They met again as students at the UW and later in county government.

The councilman remembered seeing Carter give a presentation early in his county career.

“I grabbed him and said, ‘I didn’t know wrestlers could be so smart,’” Sullivan said, to laughter.

Like others, Sullivan said he appreciates Carter’s knack for working with people, even when the county can’t come through for them.

“We’ve all worked with Owen on neighborhood projects with very angry constituents,” he said. “He was always there to calm people down, to talk about the law, to talk about how we can quiet this street down with speed bumps, or whatever. He just has this incredible amount of patience.”

Carter’s professional credentials include recognition as the Washington State Association of County Engineers’ 2013 engineer of the year. He served as the group’s president for 2016.

Carter launched the county’s Adopt-A-Road program for cleaning up litter. He helped cut costs in the Roads Division during the recession and helped restore access to North Sauk River Road in 2006 and 2007.

Councilwoman Stephanie Wright attested to Carter being “a brilliant engineer” and “an amazing public servant.”

She said he is someone who can “explain something to people, actually disappoint them, and they walked away OK because they really understood,” she said.

Carter, 58, grew up in Lake Stevens, one of four siblings. He’s married with two grown children.

“He’s still got a good sense of humor and is making us laugh, even though now he’s struggling,” older brother John Carter said.

Faith is a central part of his life. He attends The Father’s House in Granite Falls. He’s led several church missions to improve life for people in Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. He’s kept up a positive outlook since his cancer diagnosis in 2014.

“He’s continued to say in all regards that his life glorifies God,” John Carter said. “That’s been a continuing theme for him.”

His professional life is a reflection of his beliefs.

“For Owen, living a life of complete integrity and honor is incredibly important,” John Carter said. “That’s what it has always been about for him, to be an example to others around him.”

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.