ASCE Service and Honors
Dallas Branch President 1961 - 1962
Fellow
Life Member
Education
North Dallas High School, Dallas, TX
B.S. Civil Engineering, Texas A & M University, 1938
Biography
Dick attended North Dallas High School and Texas A & M University, where he graduated in 1938 with a reserve commission 2nd lieutenant in the US Army Corps of Engineers. He was called to active duty in 1941. His primary duty during World War II was serving with as Commanding Officer of the 348th Engineer Combat Battalion with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Dick's battalion saw action from Omaha Beach in Normandy through the Battle of the Bulge and subsequent pursuit of German forces to the crossing of the Elbe. Following his release from active duty at the close of the war, Dick remained in the Active Reserve Corps, retiring in 1960 with the rank of Colonel.
While stationed briefly at the Ft. Belvoir Engineer School near Washington, DC during the war, Dick met his future bride, Margaret Virginia Mayhugh, of Greenwich, Virginia. They were engaged shortly before his battalion went overseas and married immediately upon his return to the States. Dick and Margaret moved to Dallas in 1945, where they lived for 57 years.
Upon his return to Dallas, Dick joined his father, William Jenner Powell, and older brother, William Llewellyn Powell at the consulting engineering firm Powell & Powell, established by W. J. Powell in 1925. Dick worked as a partner in the firm for 50 years until his retirement in 1995. During that time, he was involved in many major municipal and commercial projects in the Dallas area, including the Six Flags Over Texas and the Great Southwest Industrial District. Dick held licenses are a Registered Professional Engineer and Registered Professional Land Surveyor.
His professional memberships included the American Society of Engineers, where he was a Fellow, Life Member, and President of the Dallas branch from 1961-62; Society of American Military Engineers; National Society of Professional Engineers; Texas Society of Professional Land Surveyors; Technical Club of Dallas, past president. Dick also served as president of the Dallas A & M Club and was an active member of the Optimist Club. He has been a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation, where he played a number of roles, including serving as a member on the Vestry, ushering and teaching church school.
Dick has two daughters, Kathryn Powell Thompson (Rob) of Seattle, WA, and Jane Powell Faulkenberry (Lowell) of Tulsa, OK, and two grandchildren, Margaret Leigh Thompson, of Denver, CO, and John Jenner Thompson, of Seattle, WA.
In 2003, Dick and his wife Margaret moved to Montereau, a retirement community in Tulsa, OK, to be closer to their daughter Jane and son-in-law Lowell.
Obituary
POWELL - Richard Leigh, died on October 7, 2009, at the age of 94. Born in Dallas, TX, on March 26, 1915, he was the youngest child of Harriet Lane Powell and William Jenner Powell. Dick attended North Dallas High School and Texas A & M University, where he graduated in 1938 as a 2nd lieutenant in the US Army Corps of Engineers. He was called to active duty in 1941. His primary duty during World War II was serving as Commanding Officer of the 348th Engineer Combat Battalion with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Dick's battalion saw action from Omaha Beach in Normandy through the Battle of the Bulge and the crossing of Elbe. After the war, Dick remained in the Active Reserve Corps, retiring in 1960 with the rank of Colonel. While stationed near Washington, DC, shortly before his battalion went overseas, Dick met his future bride, Margaret Mayhugh, of Greenwich, VA. Dick and Margaret married upon his return to the States in 1945 and moved to Dallas, TX, where they lived for 57 years. Dick joined his father and older brother, William Llewellyn Powell, at the consulting engineering firm Powell & Powell. Dick worked as a partner in the firm for 50 years until his retirement in 1995. During that time, he was a member of numerous professional organizations and an active member of the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation. In 2003, Dick and Margaret moved to Tulsa, where they could be close to their daughter, Jane. Dick's most cherished role in life was being Margaret's husband, and after she was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, he became her devoted caregiver, remaining at her side until her death in June 2009. Dick was also a loving, supportive father and grandfather. He was eternally optimistic, and his faith in God was unwavering. Dick was a gentle, unassuming man, but he touched the lives of all who knew him. In addition to his parents and wife of 63 years, Dick was predeceased by his brother, William Llewellyn Powell and sister, Mary Helen Disch. He is survived by: his daughter, Kathryn Powell Thompson and husband Robert G. Thompson (Seattle, WA) and daughter, Jane Powell Faulkenberry and husband Lowell Faulkenberry (Tulsa, OK); grandchildren, Margaret Leigh Thompson (Denver, CO) and John Jenner Thompson (Seattle, WA); sister-in-law, June M. Smith (Nokesville, VA) and brother-in-law, John W. Mayhugh and wife June (Warrenton, VA); and many beloved nieces and nephews. Dick's family would like to express its gratitude to the caregivers at Montereau and St. Francis Hospital and to Dr. Fred McNeer for their wonderful, loving care of Dick. Memorial service will be held at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church on October 10 at 11 a.m., and at the Church of the Incarnation in Dallas on October 24. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Dunstan's, 5635 E. 71st St., Tulsa, OK 74136, or the Montereau Memorial Fund at 6800 S. Granite Ave., Tulsa, OK 74136. Stanleys 743-6271
