Cole Railston McClure, Jr.

December 14, 1925 - March 22, 2017

Cole Railston McClure, Jr., a well known and respected Geological Engineer who retired from Bechtel Corporation, and a long time Bay Area resident, suddenly passed away on March 22, 2017 at the age of 91 while at home.

Cole is survived by his sister Dorothy Schoder, his four children Bob, Trish, Scott, and Kevin, eight grandchildren, four great grandchildren and his long time companion and caretaker, Nida San Juan. He is predeceased by his parents, son David, and wives Alice, Barbara.

Cole was born in Socorro, New Mexico on December 14, 1925 to Cole Railston McClure, and Marie Snodgrass. During the Second World War, he served in the 8th Air Force, 94th Bomb Group, as a waist gunner on a B-17. He survived 31 missions over occupied Europe, an experience that he held close to his heart and was an experience that guided in many ways his future successes in life and business. He graduated from the University of California-Berkeley in 1950 with a Bachelors degree in Geological Engineering. Upon graduation he went to work for the State of California, Department of Water Resources, where he performed key technical and management roles in the State’s developing dam site selection and flood control activities. New technologies were being developed during this time. He was very interested in rock mechanics, remote sensing, and shadow investigation seismology. These interests lead him to a very successful career with the Bechtel Corporation, where he was recognized for his expertise when he was selected as the first Bechtel Fellow. He was very proud of this distinction.

He was a successful technical expert and manager, and was a world recognized expert in earthquake analysis and site selection for Nuclear Power Plants (and he authored several key treatise on this subject).

While his work efforts where outstanding, they dim in comparison to the man who guided his family as an outstanding role model, placing family first, love, respect, caring, and the guidance he provided. He was always there when needed. He encouraged us to make right decisions, but gave us the freedom to be better people because of him. He instilled a work and a business ethic that guides his children to this day. To say he will be missed is a true understatement.

A memorial to celebrate Cole’s life has been schedule for July 30th. While not expected, donations to the American Cancer Society in his and Barbara’s name would be greatly appreciated.