William M. Simpson died May 12 at Harborview Hospital in Seattle. He was 87.

Simpson was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, and grew up in Southern California. He attended college on a full athletic scholarship. He graduated at the top of his engineering class from the University of Colorado at Fort Collins, where he was class president and captain of the university’s basketball team. It was there he met his wife, Margaret Hopkins of LaJolla, Calif.

Simpson was the principal of an engineering firm which he started in South Pasadena, and then moved to Newport Beach, Calif. He worked on such projects as Dodger Stadium, Pontiac Stadium and the Haj Terminal. He helped pioneer innovative engineering technology that made slender-wall concrete buildings feasible. He retired to Kitsap County in 1995.

While traveling the world, Simpson enjoyed the French Grand Prix, European canal trips and visiting historic sites.

He is survived by Dr. Cathie Simpson of Ithaca, N.Y.; Bill and Elizabeth Simpson and their daughter of Pina LaPaz, Baja, Calif.; Meg and Rich Burckett and their three children, Kate, Dan and Will of Poulsbo; Connie and Wayne LaMont and their two children, Sarah and Hannah of Poulsbo.