William P. Ilgen received the BS, the MS, and the PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska.

He served as a Navy jet fighter pilot, then taught at the Gonzaga University School of Engineering for 25 years, first as a faculty member and then as dean of the School of Engineering.

Bill Ilgen's tenure as dean saw the accreditation of the civil, electrical and mechanical engineering programs. The engineering building underwent an extensive renovation and expanded to become the Herak Engineering Center. Acknowledging his record of achievement for the School, his colleagues refer to him as the "second founder" of the School of Engineering. Bill Ilgen retired in 1993 as Professor Emeritus .

In 1984, ASCE Inland Empire Section honored Bill Ilgen as Engineer of Merit.

Posted June 2012