Two professors at Texas A&M University, Dr. Wesley James, P.E. and Dr. Ralph Wurbs ’71, P.E., initiated the graduate program in water resources engineering in the Zachry Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. To honor these professors and their impact on Texas A&M, their former students have joined together to create the Dr. Wesley P. James Endowed Fellowship and Dr. Ralph A. Wurbs ’71 Endowed Fellowship.
Channeling Innovation
James came to College Station from Oregon when Texas A&M was one of the only places offering teaching positions. He first started working on offshore research projects, specifically developing a site for a seaport. However, the legacy that James left in the Zachry Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering here at Texas A&M is tied to water resources and the graduate program.
When James and Wurbs first launched this program, they needed funds to retain graduate students. James organized and led short courses for professionals to further their education and stay up to date with current hydrologic and hydraulic modeling. Graduate students helped run the short courses, and the proceeds went to fund their fellowships. But it did not stop there.
James hosted barbecues in his backyard at the end of the short courses where the professionals had the chance to interact on a more personal level with the graduate students. While at the gatherings, students who were seeking jobs often found opportunities. James’ idea of the short courses provided professionals with several hours of continuing education, funded fellowships, and opened doors for employment for the graduate students running the short courses.
This seed that James planted grew the water resources graduate program, furthering the personal and professional development of his students. While James is now retired and splitting his time between College Station and Montana, he often reflects on his time here at Texas A&M.
“Teaching was what I enjoyed the most,” James said.
Civil and environmental engineering continues to be blessed with the lasting impact that he left on the department and the lives of his students.
Rivers of Knowledge
Wurbs graduated from Texas A&M in 1971. Two short days later, he reported to work in the Water Development Program in the Ft. Worth District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Prior to returning to Aggieland as a faculty member in 1980, Wurbs received his master’s and PhD at the University of Texas at Arlington and Colorado State University, respectively.
For over 44 years, Wurbs has taught Aggie engineering students, ultimately receiving six major teaching awards. He has taught 13 undergraduate courses, eight graduate courses, and many continuing education courses. He has also authored four books, has chapters in 15 books, 117 journal and conference papers, and many technical reports for international, federal, state and local water agencies.
Wurbs, with the assistance of his numerous graduate students, developed the Water Rights Analysis Package (WRAP) computer modeling system for supporting water planning, allocation, and management.
“I have been around long enough to see computers becoming a part of our lives,” Wurbs said.
Through his knowledge and expertise, Wurbs has been able to create a strong link between Texas A&M and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Because of this link and the successful implementation of WRAP in the Brazos River Basin for the Brazos River Authority, WRAP was selected as the standard computer model used statewide. TCEQ and other consulting teams still rely on the knowledge of Wurbs as he continues to add versatile features to the generalized modeling system to foster the unique characteristics of each individual river basin.
For more than 25 years, Wurbs has assisted the TCEQ, other water management agencies, and the consulting engineering community by continuously maintaining and improving WRAP capabilities. While Wurbs’ primary focus is on his home state of Texas, his work has impacted how water is managed around the world. His contributions were recognized in 2019 by the inaugural Outstanding Research and Innovation Award of the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers and in 2024 by the inaugural Texas Water Lifetime Achievement Award.
Creating a Flowing Legacy
While these professors have made their mark professionally on the water resources community, what matters most is the profound impact they have made on their students' lives. One of their former students, Melvin Spinks ’85, who graduated with both his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from Texas A&M, appreciates the growth provided by both professors.
As former graduate students, we were fortunate to learn from these engineering pioneers.
“As former graduate students, we were fortunate to learn from these engineering pioneers,” Spinks said.
The students whose lives both professors have touched during their time at Texas A&M have not forgotten about their impact and wish the next generation of Aggie engineers the same. In addition to Spinks, Kelly Kaatz ’86, who also graduated with his bachelor's and master's degrees in civil engineering from Texas A&M, was integral in forming this endowment. The impact James and Wurbs had on their education instilled in them a passion for giving back.
“We want to help engineering students who want to pursue a postgraduate degree in water resources engineering from Texas A&M University,” Spinks said.
These former students came together and found a way to honor both professors by establishing endowed fellowships in their names, cementing their legacy in the master’s program they built together.