Stephen Bechtel Jr.
Stephen Davison Bechtel Jr. (born May 10, 1925) is an American billionaire businessman, civil engineer, and co-owner of the Bechtel Corporation, with his son Riley. He is the son of Stephen Davison Bechtel Sr. and grandson of Warren A. Bechtel who founded the Bechtel Corporation.[2][3][4]
Stephen Bechtel Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Stephen Davison Bechtel Jr. May 10, 1925 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Purdue University Stanford Graduate School of Business |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Net worth | US$2.6 billion (January 2020)[1] |
| Children | 5, including Riley |
| Parent(s) | Stephen Bechtel Sr. |
| Relatives | Warren A. Bechtel (grandfather) |
Education and Career
Stephen Bechtel attended Purdue University, where he was a member of Beta Theta Pi, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering in 1946. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1948.
He succeeded his father Stephen Bechtel Sr. as president of Bechtel Corporation in 1960 and chairman in 1969, handing these positions over to his son Riley in 1989 and 1996 respectively. He is now listed on the Bechtel website as "Senior Director" on the board.
Political appointments
Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Bechtel to the President’s Committee on Urban Housing. Richard Nixon named him to membership on the National Industrial Pollution Control Council, the National Commission on Productivity, the Labor Management Advisory Committee, and the National Commission for Industrial Peace. Gerald Ford asked Bechtel to serve on the President’s Labor-Management Committee.
The S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation and the Stephen Bechtel Fund
The S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation and the Stephen Bechtel Fund support many non-profit groups, especially in the San Francisco Bay area.[5][6]
Boy Scouts
Bechtel became an Eagle Scout in 1940, and has been recognized by the Boy Scouts of America with both the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award and the Silver Buffalo Award. Stephen's uncle Kenneth K. Bechtel was awarded the Silver Buffalo in 1950 and served as National president of the Boy Scouts of America from 1956–1959.[7]
The BSA acquired new property near Beckley, West Virginia for a new high adventure base in 2009. Bechtel donated $50 million towards the new base which has been named The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve.[8]
Awards and honors
Bechtel was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1990.[9] He is the 1980 recipient of the Hoover Medal which commemorates the civic and humanitarian achievements of engineers.[10] He was elevated to National Honor Member by Chi Epsilon, the national civil engineering honor society, in 1990. In 1998 Stephen and his son Riley were presented with the Honor Award from the National Building Museum for their company's contributions to the built environment.[11] Bechtel received the Award of Excellence from Engineering News-Record for his leadership of Bechtel Corporation.[12]
See also
- List of billionaires
References
- "Forbes profile: Stephen Bechtel Jr". Forbes. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
- A History of Family Leadership » Stephen D. Bechtel Jr.
- A History of Family Leadership » Stephen D. Bechtel Sr.
- NY Times obituaries Stephen D. Bechtel Sr.
- The S. D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation
- forbes.com list
- Welcome, Boy Scouts, MetroNews, Glen Jean, Fayette County
- "Bechtel Family National Scouting Center". Scouting News. 2009-08-29. Archived from the original on 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
- "Book of Members, 1780-2010: Chapter B" (PDF). American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved May 29, 2011.
- Past Hoover Medal Recipients
- Honor Award
- Lewis, Scott (April 20, 2015), "ENR Marks 50 Years of Excellence", Engineering News-Record, New York: Dodge Data & Analytics, vol. 274 no. 11, pp. 42–56, ISSN 0891-9526