Memorial honors fallen transportation workers

After the names of 23 Nevada Department of Transportation workers killed while working were read at the unveiling of a memorial Friday, a crowd of more than 400 bowed their heads in silence.

Families of the fallen dabbed their eyes with tissue in front of the state transportation building while cars drove by on Roop Street.

"As we all know, highway work is dangerous," said Tom Stephens, Department of Transportation director. But, he added, it's necessary in order to provide Nevadans with the mobility they need.

Because not all of the almost 1,800 employees could attend the unveiling, nine representatives from around the state were selected to remove the cover from the new memorial.

Shaped like a traffic barrier rail -- a common highway safety feature -- the 30-foot long memorial has a polished bronze star for each transportation worker killed in service. The first worker listed, Frank Buckner, was killed in Churchill County in 1948. The most recent fatal accident in Northern Nevada killed Robert Roach on Kingsbury Grade in 1995.

On the left end of the new memorial is a map of Nevada which looks like the familiar blue historical markers seen on roadsides. Letters on the map mark the sites of fatal accidents.

"I hope we don't have to come back and add any stars to this wall," said Gov. Kenny Guinn.

Guinn told the story of four transportation workers injured in an accident just before Thanksgiving last year on U.S. Interstate 80 about 30 miles east of Battle Mountain.

Guinn said he asked one of them, Mike Andersen, if he needed anything while recuperating after the accident.

"He said, 'I only need one thing and that's to get up out of this bed and get back on the baseball field with my son -- he needs me out there.'"

Andersen lost a leg in the accident.

Guinn said the memorial is a testament to how dangerous working on the highway is, whether it's the Nevada Highway Patrol or other state employees.

"We appreciate the risks that they all take," he said.

The memorial wall is made of blocks of stone taken from an old wall at the Nevada State Prison. Inmates refinished them to create the traffic barrier.

Project Architect Mark Davis designed the memorial, which is 4-feet, 9-inches high and coated with a masonry lacquer for protection. He gave credit for the original idea to Stephens.

"I think it's long overdue," said Right-of-Way Engineer John Gregory of Carson City.

"I feel people should be recognized for all those years they put in out there. They shouldn't be forgotten."

Memorial Information

Frank S. Boegle

DOB: 1-23-13

DOD: 12-10-61

Two miles north of Virginia City. Snow plow rolled over embankment

Patrick J. Daily

DOB: 8-29-35

DOD: 6-21-78

Carson City. Truck rollover, at junction of Highways 50 and 395 South.

Wesley J. Gritton

DOB: 7-31-03

DOD: 7-31-67

Fallon. Struck by drunk driver while walking.

Carroll M. Holt

DOB: unknown

DOD: 6-14-95

Carson City. Asbestos related death attributed to NDOT employment.

Gerald D. Phillips

DOB: 1-28-58

DOD: 8-4-89

Battle Mountain maintenance yard. Crushed by vehicle during loading procedure.

Michael S. Timko

DOB: 7-25-15

DOD: 10-13-71

Cave Mountain, rural Ely. Riding in loader bucket. Threw other people out of bucket, but could not save himself.

Thomas West

DOB: 11-12-16

DOD: 3-30-77

Sacramento. Head-on collision with truck and trailer.

Robert G. Dixon

DOB: 10-30-42

DOD: 3-16-78

15 miles east of Elko on Int. 80. Mr. Dixon was working on rear of repair truck and was struck by semi.

Robert J. Hamm

DOB: 6-22-26

DOD: 9-28-65

Reno. Hit by drunk driver while fixing roadway cracks

Clyde A. Hyde

DOB: 2-21-26

DOD: 3-16-78

15 miles east of Elko on Int. 80. Mr. Hyde was working on rear of repair truck and was struck by semi-truck.

Robert Roach

DOB: 2-10-56

DOD: 12-19-95

State Route 207-Kingsbury Grade. Crushed by rolling loader that was parked.

Leonard L. Vest

DOB: 10-7-29

DOD: 12-23-80

Reno. Fell from overpass

Sigurd Folwick

DOB: 2-26-11

DOD: 8-14-67

South of Tonopah. NDOT vehicle was struck by lumber truck.

Frank H. Buckner

DOB: 6-19-1898

DOD: 2-28-48

25 miles west of Peterson's Station on Highway 50. Diabetic coma brought on by extreme overexertion due to working in a snow storm.

Lloyd Hansen

DOB: 4-23-24

DOD: 10-25-77

Pioche. Mr. Hansen started receiving total disability payments on Jan. 1, 1971. He eventually died as a result of injury.

Jack Mello

DOB: 6-29-15

DOD: 9-28-65

Reno. Hit by drunk driver while fixing roadway

Michael L. Rush

DOB: 3-18-55

DOD: 7-28-72

12 miles north of Gabbs. Struck while operating sweeper.

Buddy M. Vidovich

DOB: 8-13-34

DOD: 7-14-65

Fishlake Valley maintenance station. Pinned between vehicles.

Frank E. Fuentes Sr.

DOB: 7-24-45

DOD: 1-5-95

Las Vegas. Hit by a car while doing road work

Steven B. Milich

DOB: 11-5-13

DOD: 8-25-72

Interstate 80 west of Lovelock. Rear-ended by semi-truck

Anthony R. Thompson

DOB: 11-18-44

DOD: 3-24-99

Ely. Backed over by dump truck while adjusting the brakes.

Ronald E. Waite

DOB: 1-2-34

DOD: 11-6-86

Rural Washoe construction site, Highway 395 north. Struck by backing truck

Kenneth G. Harris

DOB: 9-18-16

DOD: 2-14-66

Mr. Harris was involved in a work related motor vehicle accident. He died about two years later in Long Beach, Calif., as a result of his injury.