POTASHNICK: FOUNDER OF GIANT CONSTRUCTION FIRM DIES AT 91

Reginald Basil "R.B." Potashnick, who began his construction business in 1926 with three teams of mules and built it into a company once ranked among the largest in the world, died Monday, Oct. 26, 1992, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Potashnick, 91, died at Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, where he maintained a residence. He also had a residence in Cape Girardeau, home base of his construction companies.

Former State Sen. Al Spradling Sr., 72, was a boy when he met Potashnick, and they maintained a friendship through the years. "I remember when all R.B. had were some teams of mules and horses and graders," Spradling said.

"And he became one of the most successful people in Southeast Missouri.

"He was a great guy," Spradling said, "... and one of the hardest working men I've known."

Potashnick also was charitable. Whenever hospitals or similar organizations were conducting fund-raising drives, Spradling said, "You could always count on R.B."

Spradling, an attorney, said the two never had a professional relationship. "He was just my friend."

Potashnick was born July 12, 1901, at Mineral Point, Mo., the son of Samuel and Nell Richardson Potashnick.

He attended schools in Sikeston, and during World War I quarterbacked the Bulldogs to a football victory over the then-Southeast Missouri Normal School.

Potashnick graduated from Western Military Academy in Alton, Ill., and attended Southeast Missouri State University and the University of Missouri at Columbia.

He received an honorary degree in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla.

He and Uline Fenwick were married Sept. 12, 1928, at Perryville.

Potashnick entered the construction business in 1926 in Memphis, Tenn., placing railroad embankment with mules and slip scrapers. During World War II, the company built three large bases for the Air Force, and in 1947 expanded to construction of pipelines and appurtenances.

The company built several hundred miles of interstate highways, mostly in the Midwest, along with toll roads and thousand of miles of gas and petroleum pipelines.

Expansion continued to foreign countries, beginning with construction of an oil pipeline in Iran. Other international projects included heavy and highway construction in Japan, Central America, Puerto Rico, Europe and the Middle East.

For many years, Potashnick was listed in the Engineering News Record as one of the 400 largest construction contractors in the world.

Potashnick participated in many joint ventures, including Dillon Dam in Denver, Colo., Oroville Dam in Oroville, Calif., Yuba Dam in Marysville, Calif., the Caguas-to-San Juan Highway in Puerto Rico.

Two of the company's largest projects were the construction of 152 miles of the Alaskan Pipeline, which required keeping 2,200 workers in camps, and a role as one of eight contractors on the $122 million Oroville Dam, at the time the largest contract awarded in the U.S.

In the 1980s, Potashnick participated in a joint venture in Kuwait to build an underground water reservoir and highways near Kuwait City.

Other major accomplishments were construction of Alligator Alley connecting Naples, Fla., to Fort Lauderdale, and the dredging of the Los Angeles Harbor.

Irvin H. Garms began working for Potashnick as a laborer in 1936, and after one year rose to various supervisory positions, becoming its president in 1960. Garms, who retired in 1985, remembered Potashnick as a man who worked long hours and spent most of his time and energy on his company.

"His genius was to be able to arrange for the funding and bonding," Garms said, "and he was willing to trust his employees in a supervisory capacity."

He characterized Potashnick as a man "willing to take a chance on his judgment and on other people."

Garms said Potashnick, whose nickname was "Rags," was very easy to work for and enjoyed visiting his job sites to watch the progress.

"He was a wonderful individual," Garms said.

Potashnick also was a director of the Bank of St. Louis, First National Bank in Cape Girardeau, General Bancshares of St. Louis, Juniper Oil and Mining Co. in Denver, Colo., U.S. Manganese Corp. in Batesville, Ark., Consumers National Life Insurance Co. in Evansville, Ind., Vane-Calvert Paint Co. and Spatz Paint Industries Inc., both in St. Louis.

He was a member of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce, the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Associated General Contractors of America, the Pipeline Contractors Association and the Beaver Club of Los Angeles.

Other affiliations included Missouri Athletic Club, Media Club, Sunset Country Club, all in St. Louis, and the Cape Girardeau Country Club.

Survivors include a daughter, Mary Potashnick Harrison of Cape Girardeau; three grandchildren, Charles R. Harrison of Tallahassee, Fla., Clotilda Ann Harrison-Brinkopf of Cape Girardeau, and Reginald Basil Harrison of Oak Ridge; and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, a daughter, Clotilda Ann Potashnick, and two brothers.

A private graveside service will be held Friday at Memorial Park, with the Rev. Charles Grant officiating.

Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel is in charge of arrangements.