Fehr Graham is formed by Allen Fehr and Joseph Graham. After nearly 10 years of working independently, Fehr and Graham, engineers from the Freeport, Illinois, area, begin negotiations in summer 1973 for what would become Fehr Graham. We were competing with each other and decided we would just be better off together, said Graham when asked why he partnered with Fehr.

We had complete trust in each other, Fehr said. When the firm opened on Sept. 15, 1973, five employees filled the seats at 660 W. Stephenson St. When asked why Fehr came before Graham in the new companys name, both said it was simple: Fehr came before Graham alphabetically.