Bechtel Family Genealogy & History

Amy Joy Wroe Bechtel was an American distance runner with aspirations to qualify for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Her promising career was cut short when she disappeared on July 24, 1997, while jogging near Lander, Wyoming. Despite extensive media coverage and investigation, her case remains unsolved, leading to her being declared legally dead in 2004. Her husband, Steve Bechtel, a renowned rock climber, found himself under suspicion due to his journals, although he maintained that they contained song lyrics unrelated to her disappearance.

Amy Wroe Bechtel was born in California in 1972 to Duane and Jo Anne Wroe and was the youngest of four children. Her family moved to Wyoming shortly after her birth, where she was raised in Jackson and Douglas.

Warren Augustine Bechtel, founder of Bechtel Corporation, was a pioneering figure in American construction, known for his role in significant projects like the Western Pacific Railroad and the Hoover Dam. Establishing W.A. Bechtel Company in 1925 with his sons and brother, Bechtel harnessed innovations like the steam shovel to advance railroad and highway construction. His leadership in projects such as the Caribou Hydroelectric Facility and major pipelines highlighted his impact on infrastructure development. Bechtel's legacy continues through the family-owned corporation, a leader in global construction.

Born on September 12, 1872, in Freeport, Illinois, Warren A. Bechtel was the fifth child of Elizabeth (Bentz) and John Moyer Bechtel. The family, comprised of two boys and five girls, relocated to Kansas in 1884. He married Clara Alice West in 1897, further cementing his family roots in the Midwest before moving westward.

Riley P. Bechtel, an American billionaire heir and prominent businessman, is best known for his leadership at Bechtel Corporation, where he held the roles of chairman and CEO. Under his guidance, the company made significant contributions to America's built environment, earning accolades like the Honor Award from the National Building Museum. Bechtel, a member of various influential boards and councils, also served on the international council of J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. His extensive educational background includes a JD/MBA from Stanford University, and he was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1979. Despite stepping down from his CEO role in 2014 due to Parkinson's disease, Bechtel remains highly influential in business circles.

Riley P. Bechtel hails from a distinguished lineage, being the great-grandson of Warren A. Bechtel, the founder of Bechtel Corporation. His parents, Elizabeth Hogan and Stephen Bechtel Jr., played pivotal roles in the company, with his father serving as the former chairman and CEO. This rich family heritage has significantly shaped Riley's path in the business world, continuing the legacy of the Bechtel name in the engineering and construction industry.

James Gary Bechtel, born in 1952, is a renowned American cotton farmer and poker player based in Gilbert, Arizona. Best known for his 1993 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event victory, Bechtel secured the title with a $1,000,000 prize. He became the first amateur to win since 1979, defeating professional Glenn Cozen. His poker career boasts several WSOP final table appearances, including the inaugural $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event in 2006. Bechtel also competes on the World Poker Tour, with total tournament earnings exceeding $2,500,000. His 23 WSOP cashes account for $1,838,861 of these winnings, highlighting his significant impact on the poker world.