William Evermont “Bill” Herzog, 88, Platte City, MO passed away Friday, March 6, 2009, at his home.
He was born on Oct. 18, 1920, in St. Louis, MO and spent his early childhood years in Enid, OK. He graduated from Brookfield High School in 1939 and attended the University of Missouri, Columbia.
Bill left school for two years during World War II and went to work in Inglewood, CA as a design engineer for North American Aviation, where he modified the P51 Mustang from one pilot to two pilots which in turn created the P51D Mustang.
After the war he resigned and returned to the University of Missouri, where he graduated in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.
Following college, Bill moved to St. Joseph and went to work for the Missouri State Highway Department. He then worked for Land Construction for 22 years.
In May 1969, he founded his own company, Herzog Contracting Corp., a successful company which has diversified and grown in many directions. He was an industry innovator who developed numerous patents from aggregate usage and railroad equipment to golf equipment.
Bill was a life-long member of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) and the Associated General Contractors of Missouri where he served as president in 1973. He joined The Road Information Program (TRIP) Board of Directors in 1981 and was active in TRIP for nearly two decades. He also served on the Missouri Business Council, the Hawthorne Foundation, Missouri Chamber of Commerce, and on the Board of Trustees for the Midwest Research Institute.
He was a member of Charity Zeredatha Lodge No. 189, A.F. & A.M., 32 Degree Scottish Rite Masons, Moila Shrine and St. Joseph Jester Court No. 98, a life-long member of the NRA and Ducks Unlimited and baptized in the Christian faith.
Bill was an accomplished multi-engine, instrument rated pilot who loved flying his Super Stearman biplane and his Piper Seneca II. He was also an auto racer, card player, and an avid golfer who truly loved to play the game.
Bill will be remembered by family and friends for his integrity, generous heart, zealous love of life, and most of all, his remarkable smile. In his life, a wonderful story has been told and it will live on in the hearts of the people that knew and loved him.
The family suggests memorial gifts be made to the Salvation Army, 602 Messanie Street, St. Joseph, MO 64502.
Greg Sitek