Stephen Bechtel, Jr.

Stephen Bechtel, Jr. Biography

Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. (born May 10, 1925) is, with his son Riley, co-owner of the Bechtel Corporation. He is the son of Stephen David Bechtel, Sr. and grandson of Warren A. Bechtel who founded the Bechtel Corporation.

Education

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.

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 supports many non-profit groups to improve the USA. The Foundation works a lot in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Boy Scouts

Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr 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.

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 is to be named The Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve.

Awards and honors

He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 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.