William Louis Friend
June 17, 1935 ~ January 27, 2021
William Louis Friend (Bill), beloved husband and father, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, due to complications arising from Covid-19.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Mary Kathryn Friend, and his sons and their wives and families: Walter and Kimberly Friend and John and Jennifer Friend, as well as Michael and Whitney Mislock, Steven and Kim Mislock, Timothy and Deenie Mislock, along with his 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Bill was passionate about the field of engineering, and in his personal time worked on a variety of initiatives to enable young engineers and students to advance their lives and careers through this field.
Bill enjoyed a distinguished 41-year career in International Engineering and Construction. He retired from Bechtel Group Inc. in 1998 as Executive Vice President and Director.
Before joining Bechtel, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of JF Pritchard of Kansas City, Missouri, and a Regional Manager for the Lummus Company in International Operations and Process Engineering. His office and field assignments included San Francisco, New York, Houston, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Holland, Spain, and Germany.
In recent years he served as Chairman of the University of California’s Presidents Council on the National Laboratories, Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Berkeley. He also was a Director of Bechtel’s U. S. Government Bechtel National, Inc. and Pitt-Des Moines, Inc.
He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1993 and served as NAE Treasurer, Member of the NAE Council, and as a member of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. He was a Director of the Inter American Dialogue in Washington, DC and previously served as the Chairman of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and the Institute of the Americas in La Jolla, California.
Bill was born in 1935 in Queens, New York and graduated from Stuyvesant High School. He graduated summa cum laude in Chemical Engineering from Polytechnic University in 1956 and received an M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 1958. He was a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Delaware in 2004. Polytechnic University conferred the degree of Doctor of Engineering, Honoris Causa, in 2005.
Bill had been a Trustee of Polytechnic University beginning in 1986 and was Chairman of the Board’s Committee on Trustees.
Bill loved supporting any sports team wherever he lived, was an avid tennis player, and enjoyed his long-standing friendships, including those of his college fraternity brothers.
A memorial service took place at Redeemer Lutheran Church in McLean, Virginia on January 30, 2021. A celebration of life will take place this fall, at a time to be confirmed.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, contributions may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church or the Alzheimer’s Association. Please view and sign the family guestbook at Money & King Funeral Home..
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Mary Kathryn Friend, and his sons and their wives and families: Walter and Kimberly Friend and John and Jennifer Friend, as well as Michael and Whitney Mislock, Steven and Kim Mislock, Timothy and Deenie Mislock, along with his 14 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Bill was passionate about the field of engineering, and in his personal time worked on a variety of initiatives to enable young engineers and students to advance their lives and careers through this field.
Bill enjoyed a distinguished 41-year career in International Engineering and Construction. He retired from Bechtel Group Inc. in 1998 as Executive Vice President and Director.
Before joining Bechtel, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of JF Pritchard of Kansas City, Missouri, and a Regional Manager for the Lummus Company in International Operations and Process Engineering. His office and field assignments included San Francisco, New York, Houston, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Holland, Spain, and Germany.
In recent years he served as Chairman of the University of California’s Presidents Council on the National Laboratories, Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Berkeley. He also was a Director of Bechtel’s U. S. Government Bechtel National, Inc. and Pitt-Des Moines, Inc.
He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1993 and served as NAE Treasurer, Member of the NAE Council, and as a member of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. He was a Director of the Inter American Dialogue in Washington, DC and previously served as the Chairman of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME) and the Institute of the Americas in La Jolla, California.
Bill was born in 1935 in Queens, New York and graduated from Stuyvesant High School. He graduated summa cum laude in Chemical Engineering from Polytechnic University in 1956 and received an M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 1958. He was a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and was recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of the University of Delaware in 2004. Polytechnic University conferred the degree of Doctor of Engineering, Honoris Causa, in 2005.
Bill had been a Trustee of Polytechnic University beginning in 1986 and was Chairman of the Board’s Committee on Trustees.
Bill loved supporting any sports team wherever he lived, was an avid tennis player, and enjoyed his long-standing friendships, including those of his college fraternity brothers.
A memorial service took place at Redeemer Lutheran Church in McLean, Virginia on January 30, 2021. A celebration of life will take place this fall, at a time to be confirmed.
In lieu of flowers or gifts, contributions may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church or the Alzheimer’s Association. Please view and sign the family guestbook at Money & King Funeral Home..
View current weather.
Memories Timeline
Guestbook
Sign the Guestbook, Light a Candle
Bill was an honorable, good man with a generous and giving heart. He loved his wife beyond measure. He will be missed but he is present in his sons, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. Rest in peace, Bill!