Edward G. Foree was born on February 24, 1941 at Sulphur, Kentucky in Henry County to Edward Cecil and Sarah Coleman Foree. Eddie graduated from Henry County High School in 1959 as class valedictorian and served three years as class president. He then graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1964 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. After graduating from UK, he went to Stanford University where he graduated with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering in 1965 with an emphasis in Environmental Engineering. He continued his Environmental Engineering education at Stanford University earning a Ph.D. in 1968.

Dr. Foree returned to the UK Department of Civil Engineering as an Assistant Professor in 1968 and left as an Associate Professor in 1980. While at UK, he taught graduate and undergraduate courses, and conducted research in water quality engineering. He served on numerous college and university committees, chaired the COE Teaching and Advising Committees, and served as a University Senator. Dr. Foree served as the major professor for 32 Master of Science students, plus served on the advisory committee for 42 MS students and 11 Ph.D. students. He served as Director of the Water Quality Engineering Laboratories, and served as the Director of Graduate Studies for the Department of Civil Engineering from January 1979 through May 1980.

In 1977, Dr. Foree and Dr. John Tapp formed a very successful environmental consulting firm, Commonwealth Technology, Inc. Dr. Foree developed and implemented water quality standards for all KY streams, plus developed a stream reaeration model that was used throughout the US. In 1980, Dr. Foree began devoting all his efforts as President of CTI. In 1986, he visited Toyota Manufacturing in Japan, to prepare for the design of Toyota wastewater treatment plants in the U.S. Dr. Tapp sold his interest in the company to Dr. Foree in 1996, who continued to run Commonwealth Technology until 2001, when he sold the company to Tetra Tech. He worked for Tetra Tech until June 2004, when he retired from engineering practice. Dr. Foree is a licensed professional engineer in: Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. He is a Diplomate, American Academy of Environmental Engineers, Firm Representative of the American Consulting Engineers Council, Fellow and Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Life Member of the National Society of Professional Engineers, Member and served a three-year term on the National Board of Directors for the Water Environmental Federation, and is a Member of the American Water Works Association. In addition, Dr. Foree served as on the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Dr. Foree has authored or co-authored approximately 200 technical papers and reports primarily concerned with the analytical and engineering aspects of water quality control. He continues to be involved as the sole owner of an independent environmental laboratory located in Baraboo, Wisconsin – a company he bought in 1996. His current passion is his farm, Graystone Farms in Henry County, KY, a 4000-acre operation with 1200 Brangus cattle, and 50 horses and mules.

Dr. Foree married his sweetheart, Jo Ellen (Joey) in 1962, while attending the University of Kentucky, in Campbellsburg, Kentucky. They have two wonderful children, Molly and Macy. Joey died in 2003. Eddie’s immediate family is his mother Sarah, who is 87, Molly 37, Macy 34, 5 grandchildren (Sarah, Noah, Caroline, and twin boys Jack and Sam), daughter-in-law Sophia, and son-in-law John.

Dr. Foree is a 35-year member of Southland Christian Church in Lexington where he is an Elder, Deacon and Sunday School Teacher. He has served terms as Chairman of the General Board and the Board of Elders. He was the Chairman of the Building Committee when they moved to their new site on Harrodsburg Road. In addition, Dr. Foree really enjoys his fishing.