Résumé

Officer, United States Navy (USN), 1953-1956.

Architect, Hellmuth, Obata and Kassabaum (HOK), Saint Louis, MO.

Architect, Harris Armstrong, Architect, Saint Louis, MO.

Principal, Charles T. Berger, Architects, Incorporated, Saint Louis, MO.

Partner, Berger-[Harold J.] Landrum, Architects, Incorporated, Saint Louis, MO.

Partner, Berger-Landrum-Field Architects and Planners, Incorporated, Saint Louis, MO, -1967.

Partner, Berger-Field-Torno-Hurley, Architects and Planners, Incorporated, Saint Louis, MO, 1967-1976. This firm produced an extensive amount of work for Missouri and Kansas commercial and institutional clients during its existence. Unfortunately, it became embroiled in a mail fraud and extortion case involving former State Representative Richard J. Rabbitt, Sr., (1935-2011), held in 1977-1978. The firm paid Rabbitt ten percent of its architectural fees for any government contracts that the representative helped to secure from Missouri government agencies. The partners were granted immunity from prosecution, and each testified in court against Rabbitt. In the end, partner Paul Hurley, who was a friend of Rabbitt's and who initially approached him in 1967 about the arrangement, received a suspension of his license for one year and probation for four years. in 1979. Berger, too, received the same penalty as Hurley, while William A. Field, received a lesser six-month license suspension and four years probation. Laurent J. Torno, Jr., who made efforts to leave the firm when he heard about the kickbacks, received only two years of probation and no loss of his professional license.

According to a Saint Louis Post-Dispatch article in 1978: "The federal government charged that the architectural firm paid Rabbitt $12,000 to gain contracts, with Rabbitt receiving 10 per cent of the fees in any such contracts. Berger and Hurley testified at the trial that the kickback arrangement started in 1967. The firm received three state design contracts between then and 1973. They were for the dietary facility at St. Louis State School and Hospital in Bellefontaine Neighbors, an addition to a building at Moberly State Prison, and the general services building at the University of Missouri at St. Louis." (See Roy Malone, “Payoff Hearing For Architect,” Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 05/31/1978, p. 19 and “Board Suspends License Of St. Louis Architect,” Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 11/15/1979, p. 97.)

Partner, Berger-Field, Architects and Planners, Incorporated, Saint Louis, MO, c. 1977-1979.

Archives

About 100 drawings and conceptual drawings by Charles Berger and his firms have been preserved at the Missuourt Historical Society, Saint Louis, MO. (See Missourt Historical Society.org, "Berger, Field, Torno, and Hurley (Saint Louis, Missouri) Architectural Drawings, 1962-1976, Collection A0116," accessed 05/29/2020.)

High School/College

Graduate, Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood, MO.

B.Arch., Washington University, Saint Louis, MO.

Relocation

Born in El Dorado, KS, Charles T. Berger, Sr., lived with his mother, sister and brother at 609 North Topeka Street in his birthplace in 1940. His father had passed away but the family owned their own residence, worth, according to the census, approximately $6,000.

He graduated from high school in Kirkwood, MO, a western suburb of Saint Louis, MO. He matriculated at Washington University in Saint Louis, and served in the US Navy as an officer during the tail end of the Korean War, from 1953 until 1956.

After his military service he worked in two major Saint Louis architectural firms, Hellmuth Obata and Kassabaum (HOK), and Harris Armstrong.

Between 1989 and 1995, at least, he lived at 8420 Big Bend Boulevard in Saint Louis.

Berger passed away at the Missouri Veterans Home in Saint Louis, MO, at 10600 Lewis and Clark Boulevard.

Parents

Charles Berger's father had died by 1940. His mother, Loretta, (born c. 1899 in KS), raised three children on her own in El Dorado according to the 1940 US Census.

His sister was Margaret Jane Berger Murphy, (born c. 1926 in KS), and brother, Robert Berger, (born c. 1928 in KS). They both died prior to 2013.

Spouse

He wed JoAnn Kemoll, (born c. 1933 in Saint Louis, MO), c. 1953. Her father, James Kemoll, (born c. 1890- d. 01/1988 in Saint Louis, MO), had been born in Italy, and her parents operated an Italian restaurant in Saint Louis by 1940. They lived in the same building as their restaurant in 1940, at 4201 Grand Avenue, renting space there for $30 per month. JoAnn Kemoll attended Washington University in Saint Louis, and was a member of the Student Senate and the Art Society in 1952. She also joined the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. (See See Washington University Yearbook, 1952, p. 129.)

Charles Berger did some architectural work for his in-laws in 1965. The Saint Louis Post-Dispatch noted in 1965: “Kemoll's Italian Restaurant, 4201-4211 North Grand boulevard, has installed a fourth dining area, called the Caesar room, a new main entranceway (pictured) and a guest reception foyer. Italian renaissance decor was used, including pattern floor tiles, smoked-glass mirrors and oak wall panels. Charles T. Berger, partner in the St. Louis firm of Berger-landrum-Field Architects, lrc, designed and supervised the remodeling. The restaurant is owned and operated by the founder, James Kemoll.” (See “Restaurant Remodeled:, Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, 05/16/1965, p. 30.)

Children

He and JoAnn had five children: Julia V. Berger Hale, Charles T. Berger, Jr., Kathryn G. Berger, Andrew J. Berger, and Mary Beth Berger Baken.

• Saint Louis (Architect's Death)
  10600 Lewis and Clark Boulevard
  Saint Louis 63136

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• El Dorado, KS (Architect's Birth)
  El Dorado, KS 67042

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