William A. Bugge
Encyclopedia
William Adair Bugge was a civil engineer who played a major role in the development of the transportation infrastructure of the West Coast of the United States
during the latter half of the 20th century.
. He grew up in Friday Harbor
, Port Angeles
, and finally Port Townsend, Washington
, where he excelled in sports and graduated from high school.
for three & one-half years, in 1922, he began work with the Washington Department of Highways engineering department. After holding public sector positions in Port Townsend and Jefferson County, Washington
, and working in the private sector in Oregon
and California
, he was recruited by Washington Governor Arthur B. Langlie
to head the state's Department of Highways and accepted the appointment. As the Director of Highways in Washington State (1949-1963) he oversaw the design and completion of some of the state's most ambitious transportation projects. In 1953 he was recruited to fill the same position in the state of California
, but declined, stating his wish to complete projects in Washington. In 1963, however, he resigned his Washington position to become the Project Director in charge of design and construction of the Bay Area Rapid Transit
project in San Francisco, California
. In 1990, William was granted an honorary Bachelor's degree from Washington State University
and recognized as one of their Distinguished Alumnus. At the time, this status had only been granted to 19 others in the history of the University.
nearly two decades later. In 1977 the Hood Canal Bridge
, one of the projects he oversaw in Washington, was officially renamed the "William A. Bugge Bridge" in his honor.
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
during the latter half of the 20th century.
Background
William A. Bugge was born in Port Hadlock, Washington to Samuel M. & Amelia (Bishop) Bugge, his father a Norwegian immigrant and his mother the daughter of immigrants from Great Britain and some of the earliest settlers on the Quimper PeninsulaQuimper Peninsula
The Quimper Peninsula is a narrow peninsula forming the most northeastern extent of the Olympic Peninsula of Washington state in the northwestern United States of America....
. He grew up in Friday Harbor
Friday Harbor, Washington
Friday Harbor is a town in San Juan County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,162 at 2010 Census. Located on San Juan Island, Friday Harbor is the major commercial center of the San Juan Islands archipelago and is the county seat of San Juan County.-History:In 1845 the Hudson's Bay...
, Port Angeles
Port Angeles, Washington
Port Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
, and finally Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend, Washington
Port Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...
, where he excelled in sports and graduated from high school.
Career
After attending Washington State CollegeWashington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
for three & one-half years, in 1922, he began work with the Washington Department of Highways engineering department. After holding public sector positions in Port Townsend and Jefferson County, Washington
Jefferson County, Washington
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington, named after Thomas Jefferson. As of 2010, the population was 29,872. The county seat is at Port Townsend, which is also the county's only incorporated city....
, and working in the private sector in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he was recruited by Washington Governor Arthur B. Langlie
Arthur B. Langlie
Arthur Bernard Langlie served as the mayor of Seattle, Washington, from 1938 to 1941 and was the 12th and 14th Governor of the U.S. state of Washington from 1941 to 1945 and from 1949 to 1957.-Background:...
to head the state's Department of Highways and accepted the appointment. As the Director of Highways in Washington State (1949-1963) he oversaw the design and completion of some of the state's most ambitious transportation projects. In 1953 he was recruited to fill the same position in the state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, but declined, stating his wish to complete projects in Washington. In 1963, however, he resigned his Washington position to become the Project Director in charge of design and construction of the Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit
Bay Area Rapid Transit is a rapid transit system serving the San Francisco Bay Area. The heavy-rail public transit and subway system connects San Francisco with cities in the East Bay and suburbs in northern San Mateo County. BART operates five lines on of track with 44 stations in four counties...
project in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. In 1990, William was granted an honorary Bachelor's degree from Washington State University
and recognized as one of their Distinguished Alumnus. At the time, this status had only been granted to 19 others in the history of the University.
Later years
Bugge retired in 1973 and died in Olympia, WashingtonOlympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
nearly two decades later. In 1977 the Hood Canal Bridge
Hood Canal Bridge
The Hood Canal Bridge is a floating bridge located in the U.S. state of Washington that carries Washington State Route 104 across Hood Canal and connects the Olympic and Kitsap Peninsulas. At long, The Hood Canal Bridge (officially William A. Bugge Bridge) is a floating bridge located in the U.S....
, one of the projects he oversaw in Washington, was officially renamed the "William A. Bugge Bridge" in his honor.