Enoch Needles

Enoch Ray Needles (October 29, 1888 – January 5, 1972) was an American civil engineer and a founding partner in the firm that became Howard, Needles, Tammen & Bergendoff (now known as HNTB). Born and educated in Missouri, he relocated to the East Coast in 1922 to open up the firm's New York City office. After World War II, Needles became involved with the design, construction and financing of transportation infrastructure—primarily toll roads—and helped with the passage of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. He served as the president of four major professional organizations, including the American Institute of Consulting Engineers, American Road Builders' Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, and Engineers Joint Council.

Early life and education Enoch Ray Needles was born on October 29, 1888 in Brookfield, Missouri to Simgesmer Needles and Elma Florence Needles . He was one of nine children in the family, which had relocated to Kansas City, Missouri by the time Enoch was 12 years old.

Career From 1906 until 1914—before he completed college—Needles did part-time surveying and inspection work for the Kansas City Park and Boulevard System. From 1914 to 1915, he worked on railroad appraisals and surveys of mines. Needles then worked for the Kansas City Terminal Railway for the next two years, first working as an engineering draftsman in the track department followed by work in the bridge department. writing his thesis on the St. Johns River Bridge. He became a partner in Ash, Howard, Needles & Tammen in 1928, when the original firm was split into two separate companies.

During the early part of his career, the firm was involved with the design of several bridges in New York and New Jersey including: the Burlington–Bristol Bridge, the Edison Bridge, Ocean Highway bridges in Cape May County, the Pulaski Skyway, and the Triborough Bridge's spans across the Harlem River and Bronx Kill. The firm was also involved with several bridges across the Mississippi River including the Benjamin G. Humphreys Bridge, the Julien Dubuque Bridge, the Natchez–Vidalia Bridge and the Rock Island Centennial Bridge. Needles delivered the commencement address at his alma mater in 1937, when he was awarded an honorary degree of doctor of engineering.

Needles was involved with the development of the Southwestern Proving Ground in Arkansas and the Bluebonnet Ordnance Plant in Texas in 1941 and 1942, respectively. he served as the first engineering advisor to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. Considered to be an authority on toll roads, He retired in 1963. the American Society of Civil Engineers (1955); and the Engineers Joint Council (1958). He also was a member of the Engineers' Council for Professional Development, National Society of Professional Engineers, Newcomen Society, and Society of American Military Engineers. The couple had six children. After Needles' job brought him from the Midwest to the East Coast, they lived in Elizabeth, New Jersey before settling in Summit, New Jersey in the mid-1930s.

Needles enjoyed golf and was a member of the Canoe Brook Country Club in New Jersey. He also was a member of the Engineers' Club of New York City. Needles died on January 5, 1972 at Morristown Memorial Hospital.