George Wendt, former president of AISC member bender-roller Chicago Metal Rolled Products and member of AISC’s Bender-Roller Committee, passed away on September 11. He was 73.

Laurence “Larry” LeJeune, former AISC Board Member and owner of LeJeune Steel Company, died on August 12 at the age of 85.

In 1967, he and his brother, Tom, purchased LeJeune Steel from their father and developed it into the preeminent steel fabricator in the Twin Cities. The company has been a longtime major contributor to AISC, assisting with research projects and devoting substantial staff time to raise the profile of fabricated structural steel, and Larry served as an AISC Board Member from 1981 to 1989.

As the nation solemnly marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, we'd like to take a moment to thank a very special group of people who answered the call and offered their expertise in a time of great need: structural engineers. As first responders combed through the debris at ground zero, engineers kept them safe by ensuring that the partially collapsed structure was sound as excavations progressed in precarious conditions.