Civil Engineering Alumnus Endows Professorship

Maurice Wadsworth is a native of Clarksburg, West Virginia, a retired civil engineer, and an extremely loyal alumnus of West Virginia University. That loyalty recently led Wadsworth and his wife, Jo Ann, to establish an endowment at WVU to create the Maurice A. and Jo Ann Wadsworth Distinguished Professorship in civil or environmental engineering.

Following his graduation from WVU in 1951, Wadsworth served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force for two years. Following his active military service, he earned a master’s degree from the University of Illinois.

Wadsworth was employed by Gannett Fleming, Inc., a consulting engineering firm headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for his entire professional career. Hired as a bridge design engineer in 1954, he served as a chief transportation computer engineer, senior vice president and director of the Transportation Division; senior vice president for administration; and finally, president and chairman of the board. At the time of his retirement in 1996, the firm employed approximately 1,500 employees in 25 offices.

During his career, Wadsworth performed engineering assignments in several countries, held professional engineering registration in 23 states and authored numerous papers.

"WVU cannot fully express its gratitude and appreciation for the dedication Maurice Wadsworth has shown to West Virginia University," said Eugene Cilento, Glen Hiner Dean of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. "We are very proud to name this distinguished professor in honor of the Wadsworths, who understands so well what it means to give something back."

"This distinguished professorship will assist us in providing generations of students with the high-quality education that they need to succeed in their careers and in their lives," said David Martinelli, chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. "It will live on as a testament to the generosity and dedication of Maurice and Jo Ann Wadsworth."

The Wadsworths will be honored for their gift at a special event at WVU in September. The recipient of the Wadsworth Distinguished Professorship will be chosen by the provost of WVU and dean of the College of Engineering and Mineral Resources.

For more information on the Maurice A. and Jo Ann Wadsworth Distinguished Professorship, call the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at (304) 293-3031.

08/23/2006