As the lights of Old Town Fort Collins twinkle in the winter night, those who knew Chris Koenig (construction management, ’07) recall his annual tradition of visiting the downtown display with his wife, Jene, and their daughter. His loved ones can also return to the Colorado State University campus to contemplate Koenig’s caring nature while enjoying a view of the Oval on a bench dedicated to him outside Guggenheim Hall, where he studied construction management.
“Chris loved Fort Collins and saw his time at CSU as an integral part of his life,” his mother, Eileen Koenig, remembered. “He built on those memories by proposing to Jene on top of Horsetooth and making it a yearly tradition to take his wife and daughter to Old Town to see the Christmas lights.”
A plaque beneath the bench honors Koenig, who died in September 2022 at age 38 after a valiant battle with cancer. Visitors will also see his motto: “Your Choices, Your Actions, Your Results.”
Markers of Ram Pride
As his health declined, Koenig made two meaningful visits to campus in May and July 2022 before his death. His parents, wife, daughter, and dogs returned after his passing to picnic at Koenig’s bench as the Oval’s American Elms displayed full green and gold glory in October. Chris’s Ram Pride was so stalwart that the family requested a Ram’s Head image for his headstone.
Koenig had enrolled at CSU with the intent to study mechanical engineering, but quickly found his fit in construction management.
After graduating, Koenig started his career at Bryan Construction and in 2012 moved to G.E. Johnson and returned to his hometown, where he was involved in some landmark projects.
“His dedication and hard work led him to become a preconstruction manager,” Eileen said. “Some of the large construction projects that Chris worked on throughout his career were the Children’s Hospital in Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Summit House, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, and the new Visitors Center and Hotel at the United States Air Force Academy.”
Part of his role included mentoring interns. Eileen recalled his motto for them: “If you want to be successful here, do three things: 1. Do your job. 2. Do your job well. 3. Do your job on time.”
Extending his legacy
“Chris was a confident, dependable, caring person who was there for everyone in his life,” Eileen recalled.
Koenig’s legacy extends beyond the memorial bench placed by his parents, Bob and Eileen. A new annual tradition going forward will be the awarding of the Chris Koenig Legacy Scholarship. Launched by his employer, G.E. Johnson, and expanded with gifts from colleagues and Koenig’s family and friends, the endowed fund will award a scholarship to a construction management student each year in perpetuity.
Carson Jeffrey, a junior CM major, is the first recipient. Jeffrey was a member of the Preconstruction Competition team that earned second place honors in 2023. He is a returning member for the team in 2024 as co-captain and an active member of the Associated General Contractors student chapter at CSU.
“We are so honored that GE Johnson and the Koenig family have invested in students like Carson, and cemented Chris’s legacy with this special scholarship,” said Paul Goodrum, department head of construction management. “Like Chris, Carson is passionate about what it means to be Ram Built.”
The Department of Construction Management is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
