The Grainger College of Engineering

William Homer Wisely

William Homer Wisely
William Homer Wisely
To William Homer Wisely, engineer, director, and administrator, for his distinguished contributions to and leadership in the progress of the engineering profession, both as an engineer for water pollution control and as the executive secretary of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Executive Secretary, American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, New York

  • BS, Civil Engineering, 1928
  • PE, Civil Engineering 1941

Mr. Wisely became an assistant sanitary engineer in the Illinois Department of Public Health after receiving his bachelor's degree from the University. In 1940 he became engineering manager of the Urbana-Champaign (Illinois) Sanitary District. A year later he was named executive secretary and editor of the Water Pollution Control Federation, during which time he led this organization's fight against pollution of our irreplaceable fresh-water supplies. In 1955 he was selected executive secretary of the American Society of Civil Engineers. In this position he has been instrumental in making the society more responsive and more valuable to both its younger and older members. He has ably represented his profession nationally and internationally in a broad spectrum of engineering activities.

In recognition of his service to professional engineering, Mr. Wisely has received the Kenneth Allen Award of the Water Pollution Control Federation. He is an honorary Doctor of Engineering, Norwich University, and a diplomat of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers.

Current as of 1972.