CITY OF BLUE SPRINGS, MISSOURI
PRESS RELEASE
903 W. Main Street Blue Springs, MO 64015 ? P: 816.228.0110 ? F: 816.228.7592 ? W: www.bluespringsgov.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: September 17, 2012
CONTACT: Todd Pelham, Deputy City Administrator
Phone: 816.228-0110, Cell: 816.935-7732
Email: tpelham@bluespringsgov.com
Blue Springs Announces Memorial Services for Dr. Oliver De Grate III
Blue Springs, Mo. – It is with extreme sadness, that the City of Blue Springs, Missouri announces the passing of Public Works Director, Dr. Oliver De Grate III. Dr. De Grate, a native of Manhattan, Kansas passed away on Friday, September 14th from a recent illness, and will be missed by family members, fellow employees, citizens, and the entire professional engineering community. Dr. De Grate was a key member of the city’s management team, and a licensed Professional Engineer with nearly 40 years of experience in city government. Dr. De Grate began his career with the City of Blue Springs in 1993, and provided leadership and oversight for many of the city’s major infrastructure projects including Adams Dairy Parkway, Sni-Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant, Chapman Farms Neighborhood Improvement District, and most recently transportation improvements to Woods Chapel Road, among numerous other projects.
Our sincere condolences go out to Dr. De Grate’s wife, Deborah Ann and his eight loving children. Dr. De Grate will be sorely missed, but his commitment to improving the quality of life in Blue Springs will be celebrated for years to come due to the legacy he leaves behind.
A memorial service, hosted by the family, will be held to honor the memory and service of Dr. De Grate on Friday, September 21st at 6:00 p.m. at the Adams Pointe Conference Center, 1400 NE Coronado Drive, Blue Springs, Missouri 64014. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Watchtower-Relief, 25 Columbia Heights, Brooklyn, New York 11201.