Vernon Wuensche
1702 photographs
A2022-008
1890-1945 (unknown)
Vernon Allen Wuensche, P.E., was born September 20, 1950 in Kingsville to Ruben Vernon (Pete) and Helen Ruth (Coleman) Wuensche. After graduating from Eagle Pass High School in 1969, he worked his way through college as a carpenter and repair technician in the gas industry before receiving his BS in Civil Engineering in 1974 from Texas A&I University in Kingsville. Vernon began his professional career with the engineering consulting firm of Ogletree and Gunn of Corpus Christi, involved primarily with marine engineering and professional diving. He was next employed by the firm Urban Engineering, where he worked on utility and wastewater management projects. He was then hired as a project engineer by the late James K. Lontos, P.E., Director of Engineering Services for the City of Corpus Christi. In 1994, Vernon received an MS in Environmental Engineering, also from Texas A&I University. He designed about $100,000,000 worth of municipal/civil projects during his career, including streets, bridges, utilities, drainage, solid waste, wastewater, and marina facilities, and performed numerous sanitary and drainage studies. Vernon was employed by the City for 33-years in total before retiring to enjoy his many hobbies. He was especially passionate about fishing, baseball, photography, and civil engineering history. Among numerous professional affiliations, Vernon was proudest of his long-term memberships and leadership roles in the Corpus Christi Branch and the Texas Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Nueces Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE). He was totally dedicated to the success of these organizations and was recognized statewide for his service. Among the numerous honors he received from the Texas Section of ASCE was the Professional Service Award in 1995, the Lifetime Service Award in 2013, and the History and Heritage Award in 2016. In 2016, he was also recognized with Life Member status. And in 2007, he was named Engineer of the Year by the Nueces Chapter of TSPE. Vernon was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Corpus Christi. He died on December 25, 2016, in Corpus Christi, TX. He was preceded in death by his father, Ruben Vernon (Pete) Wuensche. He was survived by his mother, Helen Ruth Wuensche, a brother, John Anthony Wuensche (Dena), a nephew, John Austin Wuensche, his beloved girlfriend, Barbara Ann Moses, and a circle of great friends too numerous to name. Vernon Wuensche’s early years of ASCE photography utilized both black and white and color negatives. Unfortunately, that body of work was not available to be included in this collection. This collection is representative of some of his digital photography at a variety of events, beginning in 2003 and into 2016.
The collection consists of over 1,700 photos and one book.
No arrangement at this time.
South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Open for Research
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.
Vernon Wuensche Collection, A2022-008.XXXX, South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville -Kingsville.
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A2022-008 – Gift of W. Allen Hayes, American Society of Civil Engineers
A2022-008 – Vernon Wuensche Collection was processed by Bailey Smith. The Finding Aid was written by Bailey Smith.