Why GIVE ? MSU connection energizes Wilbanks’ dedication Gerald and Daris Wilbanks
Growing up the Mississippi town of Booneville, Wesley G. “Gerald” Wilbanks was always interested in how things worked—a trait that undoubtedly led to his subsequent career path. Yet, the fact that he ended up as an engineer is still somewhat ironic given the results of a career assessment he was given in high school. “My aptitude indicated I could be almost anything I wanted to be except for a farmer or an engineer,” said Wilbanks. “However, I really liked electrical gadgets and fantasized about becoming a disc jockey on the radio.” Wilbanks began frequenting a local radio station in his hometown to visit a friend who was a DJ. Through those visits, his interest in electronics grew, and he became fascinated with radio transmission and figuring out how the “newfangled” televisions worked. “It all seemed magical to me and that’s what led me to the field of electrical engineering,” said Wilbanks. Although no one in his immediate family had ever attended college before him, Wilbanks’ parents always encouraged him to pursue higher education and earn a college degree. Following their advice, he became the first in his family to receive not only one, but two degrees—an Associate of Arts from then-Northeast Mississippi Junior College in 1962, followed by a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University in 1964.
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FOUNDATIONS | Fall 2020
Early on in his professional career, Wilbanks began to recognize the valuable weight carried by his MSU degree. The first job he accepted after graduating was with Union Carbide Chemicals in Port Lavaca, Texas, where his university affiliation was greatly welcomed. “Coming from a topflight engineering school was considered a real educational attainment,” said Wilbanks. “That was a point of pride, and I really wanted to live up to the expectations that others seemed to have of the university.” Upholding that motivational sentiment, Wilbanks continued to excel throughout his more than 50-year progressive career. In 1991, Wilbanks was recognized as Engineer of the Year by the Engineering Council of Birmingham, Alabama. He also is a Life Fellow member and former president of the International Society of Automation. Wilbanks currently serves as president of Documentation and Engineering Services (DES), a consulting business he founded in 2000. Prior to forming DES, he was a vice president at Birmingham-based Rust Engineering. “The reputation and credibility of MSU’s engineering program has been a real asset to me and opened many doors as I’ve worked with clients, associates, and colleagues in professional societies,” said Wilbanks. “It has also been a positive influence on the friends that my wife and I have
