William Eugene Hamouz

William (Bill) Eugene Hamouz came from humble beginnings being born on October 12, 1935, on a farm in rural Saline County, Nebraska to Sylvia (Rischling) and James Hamouz. He played and worked with his younger sister, Patricia, on the farm. He attended the University of Nebraska and graduated in 1957, with a degree in Civil Engineering. He married Elaine (Suda) Hamouz on September 6, 1956. They had known each other from their small towns, but he had his eye on this woman with whom he could dance and laugh.

Mark (Judy) Hamouz was born a year later and they moved from Nebraska to Colorado. Bill started his engineering career in Denver with the Ken R. White Company. Soon they welcomed two daughters Janice (Scott) Hamouz-Fultz and Sharon (Bill) Peterson who were born close together. They had their hands full! The family moved to California in 1961 where he became the Placer County Engineer and they lived in Auburn. In 1965, they moved back to Colorado to the mountains and to friends. Bill was hired as the first bridge engineer for LONCO and later became the President, and then CEO. He had a very successful engineering career providing designs at the Stapleton Airport, the Denver International Airport (DIA), the Colorado DOT, and many other cities and counties around Colorado and the nation. Bridges were the focus of the firm and he took the family all over Colorado to visit his bridge projects. When you drive over a bridge, he may have had some part in its design! Bill was still partially employed at Benesch up until his death as he knew how to always keep busy!

Bill's real pride was his family as it grew and also the many friends he made along the way. He has seven granddaughters: Mariah, Tiffany, Erin, Melanie, Krista, Kelsey, and Caylee. He has four great grandchildren: Veronica, Elijah, Wesley and Cooper. Bill always was barbecuing and coordinating for the many family gatherings and holiday events. There was always an invitation to his house that was well attended.

Bill was a member of the ACEC (American Council of Engineering Companies) being involved with the Colorado Organization, active in the Transportation Committee and several Liaison Committees with CDOT, City and County of Denver, the Denver International Airport, and later with the Lions Golf Committee. His involvement in the Lions Club spanned 43 years as he volunteered for many projects including the 9Health Fair, Eyeglass Recycling, Foreign Exchange Student Program, Challenge Air for Kids, Centennial Airport Friday Lunch Barbecue Booth, the Lions Camp, the Annual Golf Tournament, collecting food for the needy and many other projects. Bill participated with the Stapleton Airport Lions Club, moved to the Denver Airport Lions Club, and finally volunteered at the Centennial Airport Lions Club. He also participated in many Church Activities. Volunteering was very important to him and he spent many hours helping others. He died on November 4, 2017 surrounded by family and friends.

His family has asked that in lieu of flowers; please make donations to the Centennial Airport Lions Club or directly to LCIF at www.lcif.org. If you donate to LCIF, please reference Lion Bill’s member number which is 393823 and Centennial Airport Lions Club number #3519