The San Simon Rest Area - Percy Jones, Jr.
Dedicated to the
Engineering Achievements of
Percy Jones, Jr.
1888 –
Chief locating engineer who by sheer genius personally located more miles of Arizona highways than any other person. His college training in mining and geology combined with instincts as a pioneer desert traveler to give him uncanny abilities at pushing roads across virgin country.
The spectacular drive through Salt River Canyon on U.S. 60 is considered a high point of this "born locator's" career.
He worked for the Arizona Highway Department a year before entering World War I in 1917, returning in 1925. He became chief locating engineer in 1931 and served until 1948; the department called him back in 1955 for three more years to "trouble shoot" corridors for the new billion dollar interstate system.
Courtesy hmdb.org
