Inducted
2007
Degrees
- BME, Auburn University, 1958
- MSCE, Auburn University, 1963
- PhD, NC State University, 1968
William J. Wilhelm was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but grew up in Mobile, Alabama.
It would be in Alabama that he would pursue his higher education, attending school at Auburn University, where he received both his BME and MSCE degrees, in 1958 and 1963, respectively.
He also received his PhD in 1968 at North Carolina State University. After graduate school, Wilhelm joined the West Virginia University civil and environmental engineering faculty.
In 1970, after only three years, he was appointed associate chair. In 1974, he became chair of the Department. In 1979, he was elected a chapter honor member by the WVU Chi Epsilon fraternity.
Wilhelm was appointed Dean of Engineering at Wichita State University in 1979, and served in this capacity until his retirement and appointment as Dean of Engineering Emeritus in 2000.
He has received a number of awards for his contributions to the profession and to education including the Society of Women Engineers' prestigious Rodney D. Chipp Memorial Award in 2000.
Wilhelm is married to Patricia Zietz, with whom he went to high school in Alabama.
Zietz herself is WVU alum, receiving a BS in elementary education in 1971 and an MA in special education in 1977, both from the College of Human Resources and Education.