Engineering News Record - Top 125 People

Engineering News Record

Looking back over the magazine's history, ENR editors identified these 125 people for their outstanding contributions to the construction industry since 1874. Their efforts, sigularly and collectively, helped shape this nation and the world. Each pioneered in often uncharted territory, developing new analytical tools, equipment, engineering or architectural designs. Through their companies, they also invented new means and methods for construction the built environment.

ENR History August 30, 1999

The Top 125 People are detailed in the August 30 1999 issue of ENR:

Landmak Project Managers

Emily W. Roebling (1843-1903)

Washington Roebling (1837-1926)

John Roebling designed the Brooklyn Bridge but his son and daughter-in-law got it done in 1883. After John died in 1869, Washington became chief engineer with modesty, physical courage and his father's iron will. Emily took charge of the day-to-day construction when her husband became incapacitated from on-the-job injuries. Perhaps the first woman field engineer, she learned higher mathematics, the calculation of catenary curves, strength of materials, stress analysis, bridge specifications, and intricacies of cable construction.