Dr.-Ing. Hans Walter and
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Dieter Künne
both deceased

The STUVA has been obliged to say farewell to two long-standing associates. Dr.-Ing. Hans Walter, the former chair of the STUVAtec GmbH administrative council and an honorary member of the STUVA, passed away in February. In 1960, his infant engineering company was commissioned by the newly launched European Development Fund to take charge of the technical control of development projects in Mali, Gabon and Chad. In the same year, Dr. Walter set up engineering offices in the capitals of these three countries. He was fascinated by the African continent throughout his life, a link that was never to be broken. More than 40 000 km of paved roads came about in Africa thanks the efforts of the dedicated engineer.  He prompted many young Africans to train to become surveyors and draftsmen. He represented Cameroun as its honorary consul in Germany as from 1966. Last year, he received an award in Essen for his 50-year long stint as Germany’s longest-serving honorary consul.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Dieter Künne also died in February. From 1973 to 1997, he was a member of the STUVA Board and subsequently became an honorary member. Since beginning his career in the Stuttgart urban planning office in 1958, he was instrumental in shaping the picture of the regional capital. Künne was responsible for developing the general transport plan for the city at an early stage by applying scientific methods, something that till today has been the basis for developing Stuttgart’s transport infrastructure, including contemporary adjustments. As a neutral he was appointed technical mayor in 1978 and accomplished numerous buildings and other projects – including 600 high-risers and 18 km of urban railway tunnels until 1993, when he stepped down from office. Prof. Künne revealed his vast store of competence in numerous committees on transport research, waste and drainage research, the German League of Cities and as a member of the supervisory boards of municipal holding companies. In 1990, he was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit First Class for his diverse activities.