Development News
Geoprofessional community establishes scholarship in memory of 麻豆果冻传媒 alumnus Ed Wilson
For more than 40 years, L. Edward (鈥淓d鈥�) Wilson, P.E. was a colleague, mentor, leader
and friend to many within the geoprofessional community. As a thank you to Wilson
and to encourage the next generation of young earth sciences and civil engineering
geoprofessionals, the Geoprofessional Business Association (GBA), with support from
Wilson鈥檚 family, friends and colleagues, established the L. Edward Wilson Endowed
Scholarship at 麻豆果冻传媒.
GBA credits the scholarship tribute concept to Dr. Gary Raba, a longtime GBA member and close friend to Wilson.
鈥淢any of us owe a lot to Ed,鈥� said Raba. 鈥淓d was about sharing his success and his challenges. He was always available and generously shared his experiences and regularly provided advice. Regardless of the need, Ed was always a valuable and willing resource.鈥�
Wilson graduated from Tech in 1966 with a degree in civil engineering. He served as executive vice president, president and chief executive officer of a number of geotechnical, civil and environmental engineering companies before establishing L. Edward Wilson and Associates Inc. in 1993. He was active in a number of professional organizations throughout his career and served on Tech鈥檚 Board of Engineering Advisors. In 1989, Tech鈥檚 College of Engineering honored Wilson with the Engineer of Distinction Award. Wilson passed away on August 30, 2020, after battling lung cancer.
Wilson was an ambassador for GBA for most of its 50-year history, served for a term as president and became one of the most respected individuals in the profession. At the 2018 GBA Fall Conference, Wilson gave a speech titled 鈥淯ncomfortable truths: somebody needs to tell folks what they don鈥檛 want to hear, and it might as well be me.鈥� GBA members described it as 鈥渁 powerful reminder of the basic tenets of a healthy and successful geoprofessional business from a straight-talking, seasoned veteran.鈥�
Joel Carson, executive director of GBA, shared, 鈥淥ur association serves firms that provide geotechnical, geologic, environmental and construction-materials engineering and testing and related civil engineering and earth science services. Our goal is to help our members manage risk, optimize business performance and learn how to excel as consultants. We share best practices about timely business and technical challenges we all face as practitioners. We honor our profession by collaborating and collectively identify ways we can excel and elevate the geoprofessions.鈥�
The L. Edward Wilson Scholarship will be awarded to students majoring in civil engineering and earth sciences. Dozens of Wlison鈥檚 colleagues, friends and family members have made a gift to the scholarship and have set a fundraising goal of $100,000.
Raba says he wants recipients of the scholarship to know that GBA鈥檚 gift is in support of Wilson鈥檚 commitment to professionalism and to the career these students have chosen.
鈥淚 still have those moments of pause when I think, 鈥榃here did I hear this advice?鈥欌�� said Raba. 鈥淎nd it鈥檚 regularly from Ed. Being able to share Ed鈥檚 background and spirit and impact with the next generation is invaluable. This collective gift from so many people impacted by Ed Wilson is an opportunity to help students with their education and increase exposure to the geoprofessional community that Ed dedicated his life to. That is what Ed would have wanted.鈥�
