Eugene (Gene) M. Wilson

In 1965 Gene graduated from the University of Wyoming with a B.S. in civil engineering and then, a year later, he graduated from the same institution with an M.S. in civil engineering. In 1972 he graduated from Arizona State University with a Ph.D. in civil engineering, transportation planning and traffic engineering. During his college years, Gene held several positions, including working as a Civil Engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs in Gallup, N.M., USA; working as a Petroleum Engineer for Texaco Inc. in Moorcroft, Wyo., USA; working for the Arizona Highway Department in Tempe, Ariz., USA; serving as a Staff Assistant and Graduate Teaching Assistant at Arizona State University in Tempe; and serving in several positions at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, USA, including Assistant Professor in the Civil Engineering Department and Director and Research Associate of the Institute of Urban and Regional Research.

After acquiring his Ph.D., Gene became an Associate Professor in the Civil Engineering Department at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyo., and then became a Professor there in 1979, which is the position he still holds today. During his tenure at the university, he also served as a Traffic Engineer at the Wyoming Highway Department in the summer of 1982 and as a Traffic Engineer for Associated General Contractors Inc. in Cheyenne, Wyo., in the summer of 1984. Gene also has served as the Director of the Wyoming Technology Transfer Center since 1985 as well as the Program Coordinator of the Mountain-Plains Consortium since 1986.

In his position as Professor, Gene teaches and researches transportation, including conducting courses in transportation engineering, traffic engineering, traffic systems analysis, geometric design, pavement design, network analysis, urban transportation planning and traffic safety. Besides teaching and research, Gene has been involved with many department and college activities and served on many committees, including the Graduate Advisory Committee; Graduate Student and Research Committee; Curriculum Committee; ASCE Student Chapter for which he served as Advisor; Kester Committee; Engineering College Tenure and Promotion Committee; and the Engineering College Public Relations Committee. In terms of university activities, he served on the following committees: Faculty Senate; Campus Planning; Research Coordination Committee; Graduate Advisory Committee; Ad Hoc Committees on Master’s Program in Planning and Impact Index Committee; Traffic and Parking Study; Campus Information Systems; Athletic Committee; and Outreach Council.

Gene holds a Professional Engineer license in Iowa, Wyoming and Colorado and is affiliated with many professional organizations, including the American Planning Association, the American Public Works Association, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) and the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Gene has received numerous awards, including the Ralph R. Teeter Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers in 1974; ARTBA’s Golden Wheel Society Award in 1987; the University of Wyoming Engineering College Faculty Development Award in 1987; ARTBA’s S.S. Steinberg Outstanding Transportation Educator Award in 1994; ITE’s Colorado/Wyoming Section’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996; and ITE’s Burton W. Marsh Award in 1997. Plus, Gene has been the recipient of several outstanding paper and presentation awards from ITE, as well as being elected President of ARTBA’s Education Division in 1986–1987.

Gene began his ITE involvement as a student member in 1968. His service to the Institute has been from the view of a practical educator who desires to see the professional excel. He is perhaps best known for his work on technical activities of ITE. He was involved with the Technical Council from 1988 to 1994, first as Vice-Chair of Department 2 and later as the council’s Chair; he was part of the Technical Council Strategic Planning process, which culminated in the Coordinating Council. He also has been active in some 25 other ITE committees, published 30 articles in various ITE publications and actively participated over 40 times at various ITE meetings. He has chaired task force activities and recommended practice committees. Gene currently serves as the Chair of the Transportation Professional Certification Board Inc., which oversees the Professional Traffic Operations Engineer certification program