The Campbell Reporter

Community

Houge's work in California included state's biggest public works projects

By Eli Segall

Norman Houge of Campbell died Oct. 13 from pneumonia, after a long and storied life. He was 94.

Houge was founder and president of Norman B. Houge Construction, a paving and grading company in Campbell. He spent a lifetime supervising and operating heavy equipment, including tractors, cranes and bulldozers. Houge worked on some of Northern California's biggest public works projects, including the Shasta and Guadalupe dams, Highways 17 and 50, and the Golden Gate Bridge approach from Marin.

One project, however, stands out from the rest. His son, Dave Houge, said he volunteered to go to Hawaii after the Pearl Harbor attack to help with the recovery efforts. He spent the next five years--12 hours a day, 7 days a week--turning sunken battleships upright and clearing them from the waters.

Houge was born in North Dakota in 1912 and moved to Fresno at age 12. Two years later, the family moved to San Jose. He was a true product of the Depression.

Dave Houge said when his dad was 15, he once spent his week's paycheck the first day he got it and consequently did not eat the rest of the week. It was a quickly learned lesson on priorities and financial responsibility that stuck with him his whole life.

In the 1930s he found work with a San Jose contractor and learned to operate heavy machinery. He married his wife, Virginia, in 1937, and then left for Hawaii in 1941. His wife stayed in Campbell and worked as a tax collector during the war.

"Norman was a wonderful teacher," said Marshall Petty, a 36-year Houge veteran, who grew up Campbell across the street from the Houge family. "He always treated people fairly."

Houge built his house on Union Avenue with his brothers in 1940, and he lived there with his wife until his death.

In 1948 he started Houge Construction, a one-man business. Today there are 60 employees, including his son Dave, who is the company vice president.

Fred Herschbach, president of Operating Engineers Local Union No. 3, a union Houge helped found in 1939, said, "When we bought parts, we'd just tell supply stores we worked for Norm Houge. We didn't have to sign anything. They knew we were honest."

Herschbach and his father are former Houge employees. He said Houge was a kind, family-oriented person, and a man of his word.

Houge's commitment reached beyond the business, he was also deeply involved in his community.

He was a longstanding member of the Masons, served as board chairman for the Cambrian School District in the 1950s and 1960s, and Norman. B. Houge Junior High School in San Jose was named in his honor. The school has since closed, but the district's administrative offices are located there. The adjoining playground and grass field was renamed Houge Park.

Norman Houge is survived by his wife, Virginia, and children David Houge and Cindy Kidd.

A memorial service will be held Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. at 2500 Masonic Drive, San Jose. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.