ROBERT J. FLEMING

Robert J. Fleming was born at Fort Robinson, Nebraska on January 13, 1907 Son of Robert John and Augusta Fleming. He graduated from the Military Academy at West Point United States in 1928 and earned his Masters in Mechanical Engineering from MIT in 1931 and graduated from the School of Engineers of the Army of the United States in 1935 In 1936, he married Eleanor Marion Canby.

At the beginning of World War II, he worked in the area of ​​the Central Pacific. Fleming was supervisor of the construction program of the Army of Occupation of the United States when the war ended. From 1947 to 1950 he worked in the Office of the Chief Engineer in Washington, first as Chief, Division of Organization and Training of Engineers and later as Chief Engineer of Military Operations Assistant.

From 1950 to 1951 Fleming was a student of the National War College in Washington from 1951 to 1954 and was Engineer of the Army Field Forces at Fort Monroe, Virginia. During 1954 he was District Engineer in Philadelphia, then served until April 1954 as Divisional Engineer in the Division of New England before returning for a period of three years from France.

Fleming was appointed by President Kennedy, Governor of the Canal Zone to Panama on January 4, 1962, where he worked until January 31, 1967 when he retired, then worked as Executive Vice President of the company Anderson Nichols, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Governor Fleming was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation of the Order of the White Lion (Czechoslovakia), officer Legion of Honor (France), and the Grand Cross of Vasco Nunez de Balboa (Panama).

As Governor of the Panama Canal Zone, Fleming had to confront one of the most sensitive aspects of relations between the United States and Panama; the events of January 9, 1964, when Panamanian students tried to hoist the flag of Panama in Balboa High School, producing more than 24 dead. Under his tenure, the Thatcher Bridge was inaugurated on October 12, 1962; Channel the first newspaper was published on June 20, 1962 and 1964, Isthmian Canal studies were initiated with the purpose of increasing the capacity of the Canal. Fleming died on July 14, 1984.

WILLIAM A. CARTER

William A. Carter was born in Corsocana, Texas on June 27, 1907, the son of William Arnold and Susan Young Carter. He graduated from the Military Academy at West Point United States; Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California in 1933; marries Katherine Munson in July 1934; was promoted to second lieutenant of the Army of the United States in 1930 and progressed through the ranks to major general in 1953.

Carter was assigned to a professor of the School of Engineering at Fort Belvoir, Virginia from 1933 to 1934; he worked as an officer of the Second Engineer District New Orleans from 1936 to 1937 He was head of the Department of General Affairs from 1941 to 1942; he worked in the II Corps of the Army of the United States stationed in Tunisia from 1942 to 1945; was CEO of Laboratories and Research Development Engineering from 1945 to 1948 Carter was later promoted to Chief Engineer of the Third Regiment of the Army of the United States from 1948 to 1951 was a combat engineer in World War II and Head of Engineers Army second body in the Mediterranean under the command of General Omar Bradley and first chief engineer of the Army during the invasion of Normandy during the European campaign of world War II.

On July 3, 1960 Carter was promoted to Governor of the Canal Zone to Panama and worked in that position until January 1962 Carter served for a year and a half and during that time, he executed a series of programs that had started their predecessors. The expansion project of the Panama Canal continued building the bridge Americas took shape, the arrival of the first new towing locomotives, three new tugs were ordered and plans were made to convert the Marine Traffic Control Channel in electronically.

Under his rule, new methods of maintaining the locks were studied to reduce time lost while the cameras were drained. A very visible leader, Carter traveled throughout Panama seeking to improve relations with the United States and Panamanian leaders. A group of Panamanians came to honor him with a gold medal with the title of "Friend of Panama."

Carter earned his country the Distinguished Service Medal. Following his retirement from active service, he was director of engineering of the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, DC Carter died on May 18, 1996.

WILLIAM E. POTTER

William E. Potter was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, July 17, 1905 Son of William and Arlie Potter. Graduated from the Military Academy at West Point United States in 1928 and that same year he was promoted to second lieutenant of the Army of the United States. He graduated in civil engineering from MIT in 1933 Potter married Ruth Elizabeth Turner in 1936.

From 1929 to 1932, Potter was assigned to research a canal in Nicaragua; he taught tactics and military-grade science at Ohio State University from 1937 to 1940; appointed Officer of 25 Engineer Regiment Group Armed and Engineering 1138 Armada 1940-1943; assistant plans and operations of the ETO and Communication Zone from 1943 to 1945; District Engineer of Kansas City from 1945 to 1948; and Assistant Chief of Engineers for Civil Works Department of the Army in Washington, from 1949 to 1951; Engineer in charge of the Division of the Missouri River in Omaha, Nebraska until 1953.

Potter was advancing in grades up to Major General in 1956, that year was promoted to Governor of the Panama Canal Zone which was marked by the completion of a large number of projects until 1960 when his term ended. Some of his accomplishments as governor were the initiation of the project to build the Bridge of the Americas, initially called Thatcher Bridge, at a cost of $ 20 million; plans to expand the channel to cause a minimum of 500 feet; Corte Culebra lighting to allow transit operations 24 hours a day; and community improvements such as the creation of special education programs for disabled children.

Under the terms of the 1955 treaty with the Republic of Panama, Potter also oversaw the introduction of a wage system should not discriminate nationalities and transfer to Panama of $ 28 million in property, including the Washington Hotel in Colon. Additionally, Potter oversaw the closure of all facilities that were offering supplies and services and since then could be provided by Panama.

Potter Governor rejected the construction project for a new governor's residence, noting that the existing house be restored to be preserved for its historical value. Almost all the material for this restoration was obtained in Panama. Ms.. Potter a gardening enthusiast, led much of the work of the gardens of the residence.

Potter In 1968 the family moved to Orlando, Florida, where the governor stood out for its contribution to the infrastructure of Disney World. Potter died on December 5, 1988.

JOHN S. SEYBOLD

John S. Seybold was born in Topeka, Kansas, on July 2, 1897, son of John Henry and Emma Seybold States. He graduated from the Military Academy at West Point United States in 1920 and was later promoted to second lieutenant in the Coast Artillery Corps. Seybold was transferred to the Corps of Engineers of the Army of the United States (USACE) on September 4, 1920, and graduated from the School of Engineering of the Academy of the United States in 1921 and Polytechnic Institute Rensselaer Institute in 1922, the same year he married Mary C. Christman.

Seybold was assigned to Panama from 1922 to 1925 in order to conduct military research. From 1928 to 1933 he was Assistant Professor of Military Science and Tactics at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas. He becomes Chief of the Engineering Division of the Army. During World War II, from 1938 to 1943 Seybold was promoted to Chief of the Procurement Division of the Office of the Chief of Engineers and was responsible for the acquisitions of engineering and construction supplies to all areas of operations. He served as Chief Executive Officer and Supplies engineering operations to North Africa and Europe from 1943 to 1945.

At the end of 1945 Seybold was appointed District Engineer, USACE in Syracuse, New York, in charge of work control of the upper Susquehanna and New York Central floods until 1946 then was appointed as District Engineer in Baltimore, Maryland, manager improvement of rivers and harbors of Chesapeake Bay, including the Bay of Baltimore and flood control works on the Susquehanna Riviera from 1946-1947.

Seyblod was also District Engineer in Garrison, District of Bismark, North Dakota, where he was responsible for the construction of the Garrison Dam and hydroelectric plant, which was the world's largest dam from 1947 to 1950 he was promoted to Division Engineer of the Pacific Division in San Francisco, California, in charge of the improvements of rivers and harbors of San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego and Hawaii, and supervising the work of flood control in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona, all this alongside the work of supervising military construction and Aéras Army bases in these states from 1950-1951.

John Seybold returns to the Office of the Chief of Engineers USACE in Washington DC in 1951 and 1952 he was Assistant Chief of Staff of Engineers. The May 27, 1952 is promoted as Governor of the Panama Canal Zone and worked in that position until 1956 As Governor, Seybold completed the stabilization program of the slope of Contractors Hill in the Gaillard Cut, thereby reducing the danger of landslides in the Canal; completed a plan that made possible the operation of a double duct Canal locks during maintenance work; completed the Canal comversion the electrical system 25 to 60 cycles. Seybold retired as a Major General in 1955, died on February 28, 1984.

Francis K. Newcomer

Francis Kosier Newcomber Francis, son of Henry Clay and Rebecca Newcomer, was born in Byron, Illinois, on September 14, 1889 In 1909 he was appointed a cadet in the United States Military Academy at West Point. In June 1913 he received the degree of B. S. and he was appointed as a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers of the United States. Or she married Mary B. Roberts in 1914.

His initial work in the army was the First Engineer Battalion Barracks in Washington, DC From there he entered the School of Engineering of the United States in that city, where he graduated in 1916 he was promoted to captain in the same year. It was consecutively assigned to the Second and the Fourth Corps of Engineers, located in Vancouver, Washington, and Camp Greene, North Carolina respectively.

When the United States joined the Allied Forces in World War II, Newcomer traveled to France to participate in the Aisne-Marne offensive and defensive Serre and Vesle. From August 1918 to February 1919 he served as assistant commander of the Engineering School at Langres, France, and later summarized his obligations to the Fourth of Engineers. In the fall of 1919 he returned to the United States under the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel.

The next five years, from 1919 to 1924, was associate professor of mathematics Newcomer at the Military Academy at West Point United States teacher. Then in July 1924, he was appointed district engineer of the Southeast Division in Charleston, South Carolina, where he was in charge of the fortifications and river, as well as work on the dock. In 1928, he was assigned to Fort Belvoir in Virginia as an instructor in the School of Engineering.

Having been promoted to the permanent rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1939, the same year Newcomer entered the War College at Fort Humphreys, Washington, DC, where officers received special training and command positions range war. He graduated in June 1940, and was appointed assistant to the president of the Mississippi River Commission and the division engineer of the Division of the Lower Mississippi Valley in Vicksburg, Misissippi.

In May 1944, he was named maintenance engineer of the Panama Canal, then part of the Caribbean Defense Command. That same year he received the rank of Brigadier General. Newcomer served as assistant chief of the Governor of the Panama Canal, Major General Joseph Mehaffey. After four years of service, Brigadier General Newcomer was appointed Governor of the Panama Canal Zone in May 1948 for a period of four years until the end of 1952.

During his tenure, the questions of increasing the toll charge for private vessels using the channel and channel conversion route from lake to sea level canal were considered. Also for the first time in the history of the Canal, began to charge tolls on ships operated or leased by the government of the United States. In 1951, during his tenure the name of the Panama Canal changed Canal Company Panama, and the terms "Silver" and "Gold roll" to describe the wage standards were abolished on November 21, 1948. in October 1949, Newcomer resigned to active duty in the Army but continued to work as governor of the Panama Canal. Newcomer died on August 16, 1967.

JOSEPH C. MEHAFFEY

Joseph Mehaffey, son of William Robert and May Mehaffe Brooks, was born in Lima, Ohio on November 20, 1889 After completing his secondary education, he entered the Military Academy at West Point United States. He graduated and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in June 1911.

The first assignments were Mehaffey it in the office of the district engineer in Rock Island, Illinois, Memphis, Tennessee, and New Orleans, Louisiana between June and November 1911 In the fall of 1911 was first sent to the Zone Panama Canal where he remained until June 1912, when he entered the office of the district engineer in Pittsburgh.

Mehaffey took their second courses in the United States Army School of Engineers in Barracks Washington in the District of Columbia where he entered in 1912 and graduated in October 1913 reaching the rank of lieutenant. In May 1914 he was appointed assistant engineer in the Western Department; in 1915 he worked on the Alaska Board of Road Commissioners.

From October 1917 to May 1919 Mehaffey was offered his services again in the Office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington. After World War I he worked in St. Nazaire, France, and in London as an assistant engineer officer purchases. In July he was promoted to the rank of Major.

Mehaffey In 1922 he was appointed professor of practical military engineering at West Point. He returned to the Panama Canal Zone in December 1929 as an assistant engineer. He left for the United States to take a few courses at the Command and General Staff at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; He graduated in June 1935; then a third time, was named in the Office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, DC

In September 1941 Mehaffey was again assigned to the Canal Zone of Panama as Maintenance Engineer, working in this position until 1941 was made a Brigadier General in June 1942 and appointed Governor of the Canal Zone on 15 May 1944. in 1945, Congress provided a million and a half dollars and he was commissioned to report Mehaffey what changes were needed to modernize the operation of the Canal.

In December 1947, Mehaffey recommended the construction of a sea level canal, using approximately the same route this. This matter was still under discussion in May 1948 when Mehaffey completed his four years as governor.

Mehaffey retired on November 30, 1949 and died on 18 February 1963.

GLEN E. EDGERTON

Glen E. Edgerton was born in Parkerville, Kansas on April 17, 1887, to John Edgar and Alice Edgerton. He graduated from Kansas State College in 1904; He graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1908; He also graduated from the School of Engineering of the United States Army in 1910; rose in rank until 1942 when Major General. In 1914 he married Cordelia I. Hessin.

Edgerton was assistant engineer of the Panama Canal from 1908 to 1909, then was appointed Chief Engineer of Alaska Road 1910-1915; was later made ​​Director of Sales War 1921-1923; Later he was appointed Head of the Power of the Federal Communication 1925-1929; finally, in 1930 he was appointed Assistant Professor of the School of Engineering of the United States AcademiaMilitar.

Return to Panama as Maintenance Engineer of the Panama Canal from 1936 to 1940 is then appointed Governor of the Panama Canal Zone on July 11, 1940, occupying this position until 1944.

During his tenure, there were several administrative changes such as: the organization formerly known as the Bureau of Clubs and Playgrounds was appointed as the club house of the Panama Canal; special construction division and special engineering division were consolidated under the title of special engineering division.

During his administration also road and road bridge in front of the existing Canal Miraflores locks, were officially opened to traffic in 1942 Thus provided the first connection of permanent bridge between east and west banks of the Canal from the opening in 1914; excavation project of the third set of locks is also initiated.

Edgerton retired on April 30, 1949 and died in 1956.