Conrad H. Lang Sr

Conrad H. Lang, Sr.

Troy Conrad H. Lang, Sr., a resident of Troy, died on June 25th.

Born on October 20, 1906 in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of the late Conrad Herman Lang and Theresa Newkirk Lang. He was a member of the class of 1923 at Richmond Hill High School in Queens and was a member of the class of 1927 at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

A civil engineer by profession, he worked in various positions for the State of New York for 45 years, retiring in 1971. He began his career as a surveyor for the construction of the Southern State Parkway on Long Island in 1927. This highway was the first in a new concept of limited access highway construction. He then worked as a civil engineer with the New York State Department of Public Works in Albany from 1927 to 1952, rising through various positions from junior civil engineer to principal engineer in the Office of Bridges and Grade Crossings. In 1952 he was promoted to Assistant District Engineer in the Utica Office. A few months later he was called back to Albany and appointed Deputy Chief Engineer of the newly created New York State Thruway Authority, with the responsibility of supervising the construction and maintenance of the entire superhighway, another new concept in limited access highways. A short time later he was appointed Chief Engineer of the Thruway. He remained in that position until 1969 when he was appointed Assistant Commissioner of Operations for the New York State Department of Transportation. In that position he supervised the maintenance of the entire New York State highway and canal system. He retired from public service in 1971.

A baseball and soccer player in his youth, he was named the outstanding freshman athlete at RPI in 1924. He was an avid golfer and member of the Country Club of Troy for more than 60 years and was a past president thereof. He was the last surviving member of the original Board of Trustees of Hudson Valley Community College and was Chairman of that Board from 1975 to 1977. He was also a former member of the Board of Trustees of Emma Willard School.He was a member and former president of the local chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).

He was married to the former Helene E. Callahan from 1927 until her death in 1975. He was also married to the former Ruth Freihofer Mason from 1976 until her death in 1997.

Three children survive him, Conrad Henry Lang, Jr., (Elizabeth) and John Manning Lang, Sr. (Ellen), of Averill Park and Dana Lang Carpentier (David), of Clifton Park. Also survived by nine grandchildren: John Manning Lang, Jr. (Karen), Valerie Ann Lang, Stephen Thomas Lang, Jeffrey Thomas Lang (Linda), Christopher James Lang (Jacque), Ashley Grant Johnson (Jennifer), Lisa Lang Karam (James), Connie Johnson Stuhr (Clyde) and David Callahan Lang. Also survived by 19 great-grandchildren; a stepson, Peter Mason of Clifton Park; a stepdaughter Polly Mason of Troy; 2 step grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren and a dear friend Caroline 'Polly' Schultze.

Funeral service will be held Thursday at 11:00 AM at the Bryce Funeral Home Inc. 276 Pawling Avenue Troy. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday from 4-7 PM. Interment Oakwood Cemetery in Troy.

Contributions may be made in memory of Mr. Lang to the Conrad H. Lang Sr. Fund c/o Hudson Valley Community College 80 Vandenburgh Avenue Troy, NY 12180.

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