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Dennis and Phyllis Washington

 

Dennis R. Washington was raised in Missoula, Montana and calls Montana home. At a young age, he began working in heavy construction. In 1964, he formed his own construction company and with three employees won a difficult contract to build a parking lot at the summit of the Going to the Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Blessed with a superb business sense and knowing how to size up a risk, Washington continued building a remarkable career in heavy construction and mining.

Today, Dennis owns or has an interest in the Washington Companies, a dynamic group of private enterprises involved in rail and marine transportation, aviation, mining, heavy equipment, and environmental construction. The Companies operate in the western United States and Canada. Dennis also formed Washington Group International, a public global construction and engineering company, and served as its chairman prior to its acquisition by URS in 2008.

The American Academy of Achievement and the Horatio Alger Society, among others, have honored Dennis for his many accomplishments and exemplary story of entrepreneurial success. Dennis has received an honorary doctorate from the University of Montana and the University of South Carolina [Read more].

Phyllis Peterson Washington is also a native Montanan and has for years done business in the fields of interior decorating and fine antiques. Her retail store, Phyllis Washington Antiques, is located in Palm Desert, California. Phyllis graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Education, and in 2009, received an honorary Doctorate of Education from the University of Montana. The Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences there bears her name.

With a strong belief in the value of education to better people’s lives, she has been an avid supporter of the University. Phyllis has chaired a major capital campaign and organized fund-raising events on behalf of the University. Phyllis also serves as chairperson of the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation.

In addition to significant gifts of funds and the creation of several scholarships, the Washingtons donated the construction of the Washington Grizzly Stadium. They also led the fund-raising effort and provided significant financial support to construct the Phyllis J. Washington Education Center building at the University. Completed in mid-2009, the 27,000 square foot state-of-the art facility provides training for new and veteran teachers, administrators and counselors in current technologies and distance learning. Dennis and Phyllis also have an ongoing commitment to Young Life, an interdenominational Christian youth ministry. In addition to financial support, the Washingtons donated the Washington Family Ranch in Oregon to create a summer camp for teenagers.

The Washingtons share a keen interest in philanthropy, founding the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation in 1988 which serves as a platform for their personal giving and to coordinate the charitable activities of the Washington Companies. The philosophy of giving is cultural within the Washington Companies, a portion of the profits of participating Companies helps support the Foundation.

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