|
Arthur Vankirk Moninger, 85, of 2440 NE 26th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, passed away after a lengthy illness. Born on December 30, 1891, in Washington, Pa. He received a B.S. Degree from Washington and Jefferson of that city in 1913. Subsequently he received an M.S. in Civil Engineering
in 1915 and a B.S. in Architectural Engineering in 1916, both from the University of Michigan. Prior to his retirement in 1946, Mr. Moninger was a resident of Detroit for 30 years, where he was involved in structural engineering, building construction, real estate management, and eventually retired from his job as General Manager of the First National Bank of Detroit.
During World War I he served in the then fledgling U.S. Army Air Service, rising to the rank of Captain. During his service time, he was the principal engineer for the construction of four airfields - Dorr and Carlstrom Airfields in Arcadia, Fla; Chanute Field in Illinois and Park Field, Memphis. Without previous flying training, Moninger learned there on one of the first to come, a Curtiss JM4D with an OX2 motor, lubricated with castor oil. He flew all over South Florida, seeing Lauderdale for the first time from the air. It did not beckon then, but the Moninger's had a Miami honeymoon in 1929. Soon they became winter visitors here and in 1948 they moved from Detroit. 
To keep busy after his retirement and to get to know the town and its people, he undertook the editing of "Moninger's Guide to Fort Lauderdale", an annual guide distributed to hotel guests and for general sale. For 11 years, starting in 1949, he printed 10,000 copies a year of the book, a forerunner to numerous Gold Coast guides. Mr. Moninger started the Broward County Highway Beautification Committee and served as chairman for 21 years as a one dollar a year man, by getting permission from the governor to issue special auto license tags for residents of the county at $5.00 each. That money, along with monies donated by major businesses in the city, allowed for the beautification of U.S. 1 and several areas along the beach. This consisted of the planting of trees, shrubs, grass, and flowers. The city then took over the maintenance. He was also the founder of the Friends of the Library of fort Lauderdale. Mr. Moninger was also a past member of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Building Owners, Tau Sigma Delta -an honorary architectural fraternity, and Beta Theta Pi, a social fraternity. In Fort Lauderdale his other affiliations included Beach Improvement Association, Better Government, Inc., Beach Kiwanis Club, Apartment house Association, Opera Guild, Utilities Operating Company and past board memberships of the Little Theatre and the Henderson Clinic. He was also the leader of a Great books discussion group and an honorary lifetime board member of the United Fund. He was a life member of the Fort Lauderdale Yacht Club and a member of the Coral Ridge country club. Mr. Moninger was honored in 1972 by the installment of the initial plaque in the Hall of Fame at city hall for his valuable contributions to the beautifying of the city. Chris Evert of tennis fame, got the 2nd plaque. |
Tampa Bay's Gulf Beaches