Richard Weingardt

Richard George Weingardt (March 23, 1938 - September 24, 2013) was an American structural engineer. Upon his death, Weingardt had worked on over 5,000 projects.[1]

Richard Weingardt
BornMarch 23, 1938 (1938-03-23) (age 82)
Sterling, Colorado, United States
DiedSeptember 24, 2013(2013-09-24) (aged 75)
Denver, Colorado, US
NationalityAmerican
OccupationStructural engineer

Personal life

Richard Weingardt was born in Sterling, Colorado, in 1938. His parents were Caroline and Martin Weingardt.[2] His father was a general contractor.[1] He had three siblings: one brother and two sisters.[2] The family visited the Royal Gorge Bridge on a family vacation. That visit solidified Weingardt's desire to become an engineer.[1]

He attended a Catholic school and graduated valedictorian.[1] Weingardt started studying architectural engineering and changed his mind to study structural engineering.[1] He earned his bachelors and masters from the University of Colorado. He majored in structural engineering.[2] He was particularly interested in the work of Félix Candela.[1]

Weingardt was married to Evelyn S. Weingardt. He met her in high school. She was a cheerleader and he was a football player.[1] She also worked as his business partner.[3] He would father three children: two girls and a boy.[2] He was a hobby painter, painting landscapes documenting the American West.[1]

He died in, Denver, Colorado, in 2013 from complications from cancer.[3] He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery.[2]

Career
"The world is run by those who show up as leaders, not just bystanders."

Richard Weingardt[1]

He once worked for the Bureau of Reclamation after graduation.[1] During this time period, he worked on different projects, including transmission tower and power plants. He left that position and worked for a Denver-based private firm. The build the Denver Convention Center.[1]

Weingardt founded his company, Richard Weingardt Consultants, in 1966. His firm designed three terminals at Denver International Airport.[2] The project was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers' "Civil Engineering Achievement Award" in 1997.[1] The firm also designed work for the University of Colorado and designed mills in Russia.[1] He was a writer, and documented engineering history and culture. He documented the life and work of George Washington Gale Ferris Jr. and wrote about the history of the American West.[3]

Weingardt served on a number of engineering boards, including the University of Colorado and the University of Texas. He was given an honorary degree at the University of Colorado. He was president of the American Consulting Engineers Council. He also was on committees for the Colorado Historic Preservation Review Board, the Colorado State Electrical Board, and Colorado's Long-Range Planning Subcommittee.[2] He lectured at the Library of Congress.[4] He was awarded the 2003 AAES Engineering Journalism Award.[5]

Notable projects

Bibliography
  • Weingardt, Richard. Circles in the Sky: The Life and Times of George Ferris. Reston: ASCE Publications (2009). ISBN 0784410100
  • Weingardt, Richard. Engineering Legends: Great American Civil Engineers : 32 Profiles of Inspiration and Achievement. Reston: ASCE Publications (2005). ISBN 0784408017

References
  1. Foody, Maureen. "Richard Weingardt: The Pioneer Spirit". Cover Story. Structural Engineer. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  2. "Richard Weingardt (1938-2013) – He Showed Up". History and Heritage Newsletter. American Society of Civil Engineers. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. Rubin, Debra K. "Richard Weingardt, Structural Engineer and Leadership Advocate, Is Dead at 75". Obituaries. Engineering News-Record. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  4. "Richard Weingardt to Talk About Great Civil Engineers June 13". News Releases. Library of Congress. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  5. "Richard G. Weingardt". Engology. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  6. Lovitt, Rob. "World's best Ferris wheels". Travel. NBC News. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
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