Fehribach family boasts three generations of Purdue Civil Engineering alumni

William Fehribach (BSCE '61)

For the Fehribach family, their connection to Purdue University has been practically woven into their DNA.

"I've been bleeding black and gold since the day I was born," said Joe Fehribach (BSCE '15) — the third in the family's line of Lyles School of Civil Engineering alumni. "I think that's been the way for all of us, too. We grew up being in love with Purdue — and we only loved it even more as we got older."

The origin of this 60-year-long Boilermaker bloodline began with Joe's grandfather, William Fehribach (BSCE '61). William said he was influenced by one of his high school math teachers who had a degree in civil engineering.

After high school, William enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. Once his tour of duty ended, he immediately enrolled at Purdue to pursue his civil engineering degree. Five years later, William would become founder of A&F Engineering Co. where he served as its president.

From that point on, William's passion centered on three things: his love for his family, his love for civil engineering and his love for Purdue.

Steven Fehribach (BSCE '84), Joe Fehribach (BSCE '15) and William Fehribach (BSCE '61)

"Growing up, Purdue was just a part of our lives," William's son, Steven Fehribach (BSCE '84), said. "We went to so many football games together over the years and he would always tell me how he loved giving back to the school and that really stuck with me."

And, while the Fehribach family's ties to Purdue were already solidly in place, Steven said his father did not put any pressure on him to attend the same school. However, there was one stipulation.

"The only thing my dad said was I couldn't go to IU," Steven said with a laugh. "He was OK with Notre Dame but IU was the one university he wouldn't agree to."

Steven would go on to follow in his father's footsteps and become a Purdue civil engineer and, later, the president and owner of the company William founded. And, just like his father, he would share that Boilermaker pride with his children — and eventual Lyles School of Civil Engineering alumni — Joe and Meg.

"Oh yeah — Purdue has always been a big part of our lives, growing up," Joe said. "We went to pretty much all the games as kids and were always around the campus. It was a great time for me and I always kind of knew I would go there when I got older."

Meg Fehribach (BSCE '20)

Like Joe, Meg (BSCE '20) said her childhood experiences of attending games and sharing so many special moments at Purdue with her family all but assured she would eventually become a Boilermaker as well.

"I've always really looked up to my grandpa, dad and older brother who were all Purdue civil engineers, so I knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps eventually," Meg said. "I always sort of knew that I would go to Purdue — and, almost instantly, I knew I made the right decision when I went there. The other students, professors and just the overall atmosphere was great. It just felt like home."

Now, with four Purdue civil engineering alumni in the family, one of the things the Fehribachs are looking forward to the most is rekindling their tradition of attending football games together.

"I think we're all looking forward to being together again on campus once everything returns back to normal," Meg said. "It'll be great to resume the family tradition we all cherished growing up."