Issue: Spring 2016 | Posted: April 25, 2016
Larry Wilson
Distinguished Achievement in Education
51社区 alumnus Larry Wilson may have retired two years ago, but after 45 years in fisheries and teaching, he remains dedicated to his graduate students.
A professor at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville since 1970, Wilson began teaching in the Department of Agriculture when the aquaculture industry was going through a boom.
鈥淭he department head said they were giving me a new position for fisheries,鈥 Wilson says. 鈥淚 thought about it for about two seconds before I signed the papers.鈥
Before the job offer, he planned to take a break from the field and coach sports. Wilson previously attended Union University on an athletics scholarship for both baseball and basketball.
鈥淭he camaraderie of the athletic teams was a big part of why I loved Union,鈥 Wilson says. 鈥淚 got to meet people from all over the eastern half of the country. A lot of them became friends for life.鈥
After student teaching, Wilson decided he was better suited to be a college professor. The choice began a career in teaching and fisheries that allowed him to travel all over the country and to Thailand, Spain, Costa Rica, Brazil and Laos.
Wilson has helped 85 graduate students complete their master鈥檚 degrees during his career, many going on to have teaching careers.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 what I鈥檝e enjoyed the most over all these years,鈥 Wilson says. 鈥淚鈥檝e got another year and couple of months to get my last two students completed. Those will make 86 and 87.鈥
Wilson will retire fully on April 30, 2017, but he plans to continue his field work.