Upon his retirement this month from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) after 40 years of service, former Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow William R. “Bill” Stockton, P.E., Ph.D., received the prestigious Road Hand Award from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) at a meeting of the College Station City Council Transportation Committee in the council chambers on Tuesday, January 24. He was also recognized for this honor during TxDOT’s Texas Transportation Forum in Austin on Tuesday, January 31.
The award, which is TxDOT’s highest tribute to an individual for support of TxDOT initiatives and priorities, was presented by TxDOT Chief Engineer Lance Simmons. Simmons referenced Stockton’s executive oversight and professional advice for strategic projects such as transportation safety, high speed rail, funding and financing analyses, and the Texas 2030 Committee support team, among others.
TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams, who was unable to attend the presentation, appeared on video.
“In your role as TTI’s principal liaison with TxDOT, you’ve truly exemplified the meaning of ‘partner,’” Williams said. “You were always there to help us find a solution—sometimes overnight—to a question or a problem that we faced. I’ve sincerely enjoyed working with you on programs such as the Congestion Task Force, events and programs such as Short Course and the Transportation Forum, as well as work that we do with our legislative partners and others. Thank you for everything you have done for TxDOT and the state of Texas.”
Stockton acknowledged his TTI colleagues in attendance at the presentation.
“Thank you for a lifelong career of fun and challenging projects and initiatives that have improved the transportation system and helped make TxDOT the best in the nation. I am honored and humbled to receive this award and want to thank all of you who have helped me along the way,” he said.
