The symbolic nature of passing the leadership from one President to another has taken many forms over the years. Whether it involves a swearing in, crowning, or passing of an item of value, these leadership changes are important to any organization.
Prior to 2002, WASHTO did not have an actual gavel to pass from President to President. Each past president was presented a plaque with a gavel on it representing their term in office.
In 2002–2003, President Sleeter Dover (Wyoming) had an idea: WASHTO needed a symbol to commemorate the transition of leadership. He observed that incoming President and then-Vice-President Mike Behrens walked each morning, exploring the cities of the various AASHTO and WASHTO meetings. During these walks, Behrens regularly found rocks that interested him and brought them back home.
An idea struck President Dover. At the next WASHTO Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City in the summer of 2003 President Dover presented incoming President Behrens a large rock (about 12 inches long, 8 inches wide and 4 inches deep) from the Snake River in Wyoming. The rock became the new gavel, marking the beginning of the WASHTO Gavel tradition.
| President | State | Years | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleeter Dover | WY | 2002-2003 | Snake River Rock |
| Michael Behrens | TX | 2003-2004 | Rock to Gavel |
| Tom Norton | CO | 2004-2005 | Case for Gavel |
| David Spryncznatyk | ND | 2005-2006 | Fringed Leather Wrap |
| Rhonda Faught | NM | 2007-2008 | NMDOT & Roadrunner Pin |
| Will Kempton | CA | 2008-2009 | CalTrans Pin |
| Paul Hammond | WA | 2009-2010 | Gavel Cap |
| Amadeo Saenz | TX | 2010-2011 | Mesquite Nesting Blocks |
| Frances Ziegler | ND | 2011-2012 | WASHTO State Map |
| John Cox | WY | 2012-2013 | Steamboat Graphic |
| John Halikowski | AZ | 2013-2014 | Copper State Seals |
| Malcolm Dougherty | CA | 2014-2015 | Mission Plaque |
| Brian Ness | ID | 2015-2016 | State Gem Stones |
| Carlos Braceras | UT | 2016-2017 | Transportation Through the Years Base |
| Mike Tooley | MT | 2017-2018 | Beaded Handle |
| Roger Millar | WA | 2018-2019 | Pedestal |
| Kyle Schneweis | NE | 2019-2020 | Crane Engraving |
| James Bass | TX | 2020-2021 | Don’t Mess With Texas |
| Bill Panos | ND | 2021-2022 | State Seal |
| Kristina Swallow | NV | 2022-2023 | Nevada Turquoise on Handle |
| Joel Jundt | SD | 2023-2024 | Black Hills Gold Pheasant |
| Ed Sniffen | HI | 2024-2025 | ‘Ōlelo No’eau Engraving |
© 2026 Western Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
