![[Ralph M. Picture 1]](Modjeski.sm.JPG)
R. Modjeski portrait by Gabriela Paciorek 2004
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![[Ralph M. Picture 2]](Ralph_Modjeski.JPG)
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Modjeski, Ralph (Modrzejewski, Rudolf)
Civil engineer. Born in Cracow [Bohnia], Poland, Jan. 27, 1861; son of Gustaw
and Helena (Opid) Modrzejewski; came to U.S. with mother, 1876; name
changed to Modjeski for American naturalization, his mother being the
celebrated tragedienne, Helen Modjeska. Graduate of Coll. des Points [Ponts]
et Chausses, Paris, at head of class, with honors: D. Eng., Univ. of Illinois,
1911; Pa. Mil. Coo., 1927; Polytechnic Inst. of Lwow (Poland), 1930;married
Felicia Benda, of Cracow, Poland, Dec. 28, 1885 (divorced); married Mrs.
Mary T. Giblyn, July 7, 1931. Cons. bridge engr. at Chicago since 1892; mem.
firm Modjeski & Noble, chief engrs. of bridge over Mississippi River, at
Thebes, Ill.; designed and built new govt. bridge, Rock Island, Ill., as well as
many ry. bridges; consulting engr. for city of Chicago and Sanitary District
on their bascule bridges; in charge of reconstruction of Bismarck Bridge and
others for N. P. Ry.; designed and built the Columbia and Willamette River
bridges for Portland & Seattle Ry.; chief engr. McKinley Bridge at St. Louis;
Broadway Bridge, Portland, Ore.; Columbia River Bridge, Cecilo, Ore.; Cherry
St. Bridge, Toledo, 0.: mem. bd. engrs. Quebec Bridge (reconstruction); new
Memphis (Tenn.) Bridge; chief engr. Delaware River Bridge (Philadelphia); Mid
Hudson Bridge; New Orleans Bridge; chief engr. Huey P. Long Bridge over
Mississippi River at New Orleans; Iowa, Ill. Memorial Bridge, Davenport; Calvert
St. Bridge, Washington, D. C. Chairman board cons. engrs. Trans Bay Bridge,
San Francisco Awarded John Scott medal, Phila. 1924; John Fritz medal,
1930; Washington Award, 1931; Knight of Legion of Honor (France. Member:
Am. Soc. Civil Engineers; British Inst. Civil Engineers; Canadian Soc. C. E.; Am.
Inst. Consulting Engrs.;Western Soc. Engineers (past pres.) Ass'n Amicale
de Ingenieurs Civils des Ponts et Chaussees de France; Am. Ry. Eng'ing
Ass'n; Franklin Inst. of Phila.; Chicago Engineers Club (past pres.); Nat. Acad.
Sciences; Tau Beta Pi; Clubs: Union League; Press (Chicago): Engineers,
Century (New ' York); Engineers (Philadelphia); Engineers and Architects
(Louisville). Died June 26, 1940.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" by Rev. Francis Bolek, Editor-in-Chief; Harbinger House, New York, 1943