RYNEARSON RETIRES

Glenn E. Rynearson, Springfield, will retire April 30 after 34 years of continuous service as Illinois field engineer for the Portland Cement Association.

One of the outstanding authorities on concrete road and street construction in Illinois, Mr. Rynearson is widely known throughout the state, particularly in the Springfield and Peoria districts of the highway department where his work was largely concentrated.

"Rynie", as he is known to his friends, literally grew up with the concrete paving industry in Illinois. His career in the paving field began in 1919 when he was employed by the state highway department following service in World War I. At that time there were approximately 1,500 miles on the state primary system, of which 734 miles were concrete. The remainder were brick, macadam, gravel or just plain dirt. Latest annual report of the Illinois Division of Highways (1957) listed 10,750 miles on the rural primary system, of which 10,146 miles were payed with concrete.

Mr. Rynearson's first major assignment with the state highway department was district engineer of materials in the East St. Louis office. His most important assignment, however, was as a testing engineer and construction supervisor on the famed Bates Test Road, a project that subsequently became a tremendous factor in the design and construction of concrete pavements not only in Illinois but throughout the United States.

Since joining the Association in 1924, Mr. Rynearson has participated in many public and professional activities to promote the cause of good roads. He is a member of the Springfield Engineers Club, the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers. For 30 years he has been on the legislative committee of the Illinois Society.

Rynie said he has no plans for the immediate future except to relax at his home on Lake Springfield.

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