Cecil Clair "C.C." Hutchinson

Cecil Clair "C.C ." Hutchinson, 74, Topeka, formerly of Council Grove, passed away on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 at a local hospital. CC was born April 28, 1934 in Delevan, the son of William C. and Flossie (Williams) Hutchinson. He grew up on a farm near Wilsey, Kansas and graduated from Wilsey High School in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army. In 1956, CC graduated from Emporia State University (formerly known as Kansas State Teachers College) in Emporia. While in college, he ran track for Coach Fran Welch. After college graduation, CC was a teacher and coached track and basketball at Northern Heights High School near Allen, Kansas. In 1962, he left teaching to start his own business and owned and operated Neosho Construction Company in Council Grove for 37 years. Neosho was focused in the railroad construction industry, and CC was instrumental in building several signature projects across the country and abroad, including: CNW 130 mile Coal Line, Wyoming; BN 135 mile Coal Line, Wyoming; UP Rail Yard, Spring, Texas; DART Light Rail at Union Station, Dallas, Texas; Tri-Met Light Rail, Beaverton, Oregon; UP Marion Intermodal Facility, West Memphis, Arkansas; and the Panama Canal Railway, Panama. He sold Neosho in 1999. CC also owned and operated Saginaw Corporation and ran a cattle ranching operation in the Council Grove area for many years. He was elected to lifetime membership on the ESU Board of Trustees Endowment Association, constructed the new ESU track and Stadium Press Box and the Press Box was named in his honor. He was a member of First United Methodist Churches in both Council Grove and Topeka. CC married Arveta "Jo" Leiss on June 3, 1956 in Greensburg, Kansas. She died in 1992. Survivors include sons, Douglas (Lori) Hutchinson, Steven (Mary) Hutchinson, both of Topeka; six grandchildren (Matt, Joe, Emma, Morgan, Grace and Jack); and sisters, Mary Kay Robinson, Topeka and Elaine Slater, Emporia. He was preceded in death by a brother, William Hutchinson. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2008 at First United Methodist Church in Topeka. Burial will follow at 12:30 p.m. at the Greenwood Cemetery in Council Grove. CC will lie in state at Penwell-Gabel Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road after 2:00 p.m. on Friday and visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the CC Hutchinson Memorial Fund, 709 S. Kansas Ave., Room 200, Topeka, Kansas 66603. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com. Cecil Clair Hutchinson