It took Dennis McCall a moment to realize what was happening.

McCall, who serves as Butler County’s engineer, was preparing to give a presentation at the Association of County Engineers of Alabama’s annual conference in Orange Beach, Ala.

Then he heard something that caught his attention.

“I was looking over my notes for my presentation and I heard the speaker say something that sounded familiar,” McCall said. “I kept looking over my notes and then I heard something else that sounded familiar and I realized that (the speaker) was talking about me.”

McCall was in fact being recognized as the association’s County Engineer of the Year.

“It’s quite an honor,” McCall said. “It was a real surprise to me.”

Butler County Commissioner Frank Hickman wasn’t the least bit surprised that McCall was tabbed for the honor.

“It’s been known to me for quite some time that we have the best engineer in the State of Alabama, and now everyone else is recognizing that,” Hickman said. “I can assure you that Dennis McCall is at the top of his class.”

Butler County Commission Chairman Jesse McWilliams echoed Hickman’s sentiments.

“I’ve been a Dennis McCall fan for a long time,” he said. “He has a very tough job, but he does a great job. He’s a great engineer and he’s very committed to Butler County.”

McCall has served as the county’s engineer since 1997.

He’s currently serving as the Southeast Regional Vice President of the National Association of County Engineers (NACE). As such, he serves as the executive officer of an eight-member board that includes the president and secretary of NACE.

McCall said it’s a time consuming responsibility, but one that he believes benefits Butler County.

“I have found, at this point in my career, that the best way to address road issues on a local level is involvement on the national level,” he said. “NACE is a 2,000 member organization that focuses on transportation issues and how related legislation affects all of us on the local level. Many members of Congress are not aware of how funding is diminished between Washington through the Federal Highway Administration to states and counties and cities.”

McCall said its important for someone on the local level to influence what happens on the national level.

When presented with the County Engineer of the Year award, McCall was recognized for his involvement in local, state and national organizations, such as serving as president of the Association of County Engineers of Alabama and on the Governor’s Forest Recovery Task Force.