George A. Penzel Family

Mr. George A. Penzel grew up in Jackson, Missouri, and attended Jackson public schools. As a freshman in college, he attended Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. When Westminster College terminated its intercollegiate football program at the end of Mr. Penzel’s freshman year, he transferred to the University of Missouri-Rolla. While at Rolla, he played football for three years and received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering in 1935. Mr. Penzel has been a lifelong civil engineer, as well as a professional land surveyor. He served in the United States Army Corps of Engineers as a combat engineer during World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater and in the assault landings of Layti in the Philippines and Okinawa. He also helped build the Alaskan Highway during the earlier years of World War II. After World War II, Mr. Penzel continued to serve in the Army Reserves and the Missouri National Guard attaining the rank of Lieutenant Colonel before his retirement.