After some tough jobs, brothers begin to soar
CHAPTER FOUR
Kenneth Lyle Cianchette
■ President of Associated General Contractors of Maine in 1978; picked chairman of the year of AGC of America in 1984 for his push for America to pay attention to its infrastructure. ■ Recipient of an annual Maine Meritorous Achievement in Construction (MAC) award. ■ Trustee of Owls Head Transportation Museum. Member of several aviation associations. ■ Served as president and volunteer for non-profit Pinnacle Ski Club in Pittsfield.
Born Sept. 28, 1924
Family ■ Marries Evelene Lancaster of Pittsfield on Aug. 24, 1949. ■ Three daughters — Jane Linscott, Ann Ball and Jean Bradshaw. ■ Two sons — Eric and Jon.
Work ■ In 1942, a few days after MCI graduation, Ken goes to work for his father building bridges. ■ When Carl E. Cianchette Contractor lands its first job in March, 1946, Ken is on the roster. ■ Ken, Carl, and Bud incorporate in 1949 to form Cianchette Bros., Inc. Ken is company clerk. ■ In 1953, he ventures out on his own, forms Ken Cianchette, Inc., and concentrates on sewer and water projects plus bridges and industrial buildings. ■ In 1961, he returns to Cianchette Bros., Inc. First job is a challenging canal project in Bangor. ■ When company buys Snodgrass company in Portland, Ken manages transition.
■ After spearheading construction of Cianbro’s new office building in 1980, Ken eases up on his workload. By 1985 he retires and he and Evelene begin spending winters in Florida.
Military service ■ Drafted into U.S. Army in 1943 during World War II. Arrives in Scotland on June 6, 1943 as part of a replacement pool to fill in for D-Day casualties. He serves two years in Europe with duty in England, France, and Germany. Is discharged and arrives home in March of 1946.
Politics ■ Selectman, councilman, school
board member, and planning board member in Pittsfield. ■ Appointed by Gov. Kenneth Curtis: To serve on the Land Use Regulation Commission and formulate a comprehensive plan for Maine’s unorganized territories; To chair an advisory council for Maine Department of Commerce and Industry;
To chair Mark Maine, a committee charged with encouraging economic development in Maine.
Affiliations, public service and honors ■ On original board of Unity College; served 24 years; awarded an honorary doctorate. ■ Spent hours on improvements for Maine Central Institute: football and track fields, golf course, treeplanting. Cited for efforts in 1998 ceremony; was 1989 MCI Hall of Fame inductee.
Inventions and innovations ■ Invented the Chinbro Beam clamp, designed to handle all types of structural steel. ■ Invented the Chinbro Pipe Grab, designed to handle various kinds of water and sewer pipe. ■ Invented a giant vacuum machine to harvest peat moss.
CIANBRO THE CONSTRUCTORS
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