THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, February 6, 1996 TAG: 9602060245
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
Percy Zell Michener, a scholarly, soft spoken civil engineer had the experience acquired in 40 years of bridge building. He died Feb. 2, 1996.
He was a 1926 graduate of the University of Illinois School of Engineering. After serving 15 years in the State of Illinois Bridge Department he was commissioned a captain in the U.S.A.R. in 1940 where he quickly rose to colonel while supervising the construction on the Canol Pipeline from Norman Wells to Fairbanks, Alaska. In his next assignment, he commanded the 1060th Engineers Port Construction Group in the South Pacific, overseeing the rebuilding of Manila Harbor. He was decorated with the Bronze Star and two clusters. Following the war he became vice president of Sverdrup and Parcel, Consulting Engineers of St. Louis, Mo., until retirement in 1965. He spent five years in Saudi Arabia building airfields, piers, power plants and the road to Mecca.
In 1954 he began the feasibility studies for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel, and as project engineer, coordinated the work of five construction firms. He received many awards for his work , including his project being named the Engineering Feat of the Decade.
He was born in Alexandria, Ind., Jan. 22, 1904, the son of an accountant for Wabash Railroad. In 1927 he married the former Kathryn Monroe. He retired to Scottsdale in 1976.
Surviving are a son, William Michener, M.D., of Cleveland Clinic; two grandchildren, Sarah Rayburn of Novelty, Ohio, and Peter Michener of Bangkok, Thailand; and three great-grandchildren.
A Memorial service will be at Valley Presbyterian Chapel, Scottsdale. Arrangements are by Messinger Mortuary Chapel, Scottsdale.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB