Stephen D. Bechtel Jr

Known worldwide as a pioneering business leader, Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. conquered amazing engineering feats at the head of one of the largest construction companies in the world. Bechtel, known to friends and colleagues as "Steve Jr.," was equally noted for his philanthropic accomplishments.

Bechtel, a lifelong waterfowl hunter who believed deeply in conservation and generously supported Delta Waterfowl for decades, died March 15 at his home in San Francisco. He was 95.

"Steve Bechtel sincerely appreciated Delta's foundation in strong science and willingness to trying new approaches to address the issues facing ducks," said John Devney, senior vice president of policy for Delta Waterfowl. "There are few people who will leave as rich a legacy as Steve did for Delta's mission and critically important programs for ducks and duck hunters."

Bechtel was born in Oakland, California, in 1925. After graduating high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and earned a civil engineering degree at Purdue University, followed by an MBA at Stanford University. By age 35, he had worked his way up the Bechtel company ladder to become the third-generation chief executive officer.

During Bechtel's 30-year tenure as CEO, the company became a world leader in the construction industry, building infrastructure on six continents while pioneering technology, engineering and construction methods. Under his leadership, the company developed sophisticated megaprojects such as San Francisco's Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, several North Sea oil and gas platforms, liquid natural gas plants in Algeria, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia, nuclear power plants throughout the United States, the King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia and the Channel Tunnel between Great Britain and France.

Stephen Bechtel Jr. retired as CEO in 1990 but continued to serve on the company's board through 2018. He received many prestigious awards for his work, including the Hoover Medal in 1980 for civic and humanitarian achievements. Bechtel served on six presidential commissions, and, in 1991, President George H.W. Bush bestowed upon him the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the nation's highest honor for technological achievement.

Through the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation formed in 1957, he supported an impressive array of education and environmental causes. The Foundation supported initiatives for teachers and students in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and constructed the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve for the Boy Scouts of America in West Virginia.

Bechtel was a proud philanthropic leader in the waterfowl conservation world, too. He contributed to impactful projects for the California Waterfowl Association, Ducks Unlimited, and Delta Waterfowl, as well as The Nature Conservancy and Audubon Society in California's Central Valley.

Bechtel began supporting Delta Waterfowl in 1988, first backing the organization's Adopt-a-Pothole Program. He helped fund important research by Ken Richkus, a Delta Ph.D. student working to understand pintail breeding ecology in southern Saskatchewan. In addition, the Foundation was a key supporter of Delta's Alternative Land Use Services. The vision set forth by ALUS has since spurred Working Wetlands on the U.S. prairies and GROW in Manitoba, habitat programs which are conserving the small wetlands that are so important to breeding ducks.

"Support from the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation catalyzed so much important research and program development for Delta Waterfowl," Devney said. "Steve was an incredibly engaged philanthropist who asked many important questions and continually pressed to see how he could make a difference."

Lauren Bechtel Dachs, vice chair and president of the S.D. Bechtel Jr. Foundation, said that her dad's strong conservation ethic resulted from his love of waterfowl - ducks, in particular.

"My father encouraged generations to come to join his efforts to conserve wetlands and manage western water so that the Pacific Flyway and all areas ducks needed to flourish would be sustained and available for the future," Dachs said. "Delta responded to this interest with excellent science, dedicated professionals, and enthusiastic members."

Steve Jr.'s son, Gary Bechtel, served on Delta Waterfowl's board of directors from 2007 to 2012 and is currently co-chairman of Delta's Ambassador's Circle.

"Dad felt darn strongly about Delta Waterfowl," Gary Bechtel said. "He liked and supported Delta's broad vision and research because he knew it helped ducks."

Steve Bechtel Jr. will be remembered as a visionary business leader and remarkably generous philanthropist who made a tremendous impact and leaves behind an indelible legacy of waterfowl conservation.

"He was first and foremost an incredible gentleman - kind, curious, engaged and thoughtful," Devney said. "He loved his time at Hi-Lo, the family duck club, where he spent time with his family in the habitat he developed. He enjoyed the morning breakfasts, timely duck blind draws, and moments with family, friends, and fine duck dogs in the blind." - Paul Wait