Past ɫAV President William “Bill” Arthur Verkest of Arlington, Texas, passed away on January 18, 2025. An ɫAV member for more than 40 years, Verkest was very active at the branch, chapter, and national levels. In 1999, after serving as the Texas Chapter delegate, he was elected to the ɫAV Board of Directors as the Regional Director for Region VII. While on the board, he served as the chair of the Membership Committee, chair of the Finance Committee, and treasurer for the association.
In 2006, Verkest became president of ɫAV. During his term, he testified before the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Commission, explaining ɫAV’s position on funding surface transportation needs. There were two key “firsts” for ɫAV while Verkest was president: the association held its inaugural Education Summit in Denver and launched the Certified Public Infrastructure Inspector program.
Recipient of ɫAV’s Top 10 Public Works Leaders of the Year (2009) and Presidential Leadership Award (2017), Verkest started the Public Works Institute of Texas (PWITX) in 2014.
“Bill Verkest was one of those who led by example. Always helping others, always trying to leave the world a better place,” said ɫAV Past President Keith Pugh, PE, PWLF, in a recent LinkedIn post. “He will be missed by all who knew him . . . the public works profession is better off because of his service.”
Verkest’s career in public works included time as director of the Design and Construction Management Division for the City and County of Denver, Colorado; and director of public works for the City of McKinney, Texas, and for the City of Fort Worth, Texas. Prior to his public works service, Bill was in the US Air Force, retiring as a Colonel in 1988.
A more comprehensive article about Verkest will be published in the March issue of the ɫAV Reporter. See the full obituary and offer condolences . A full military service was held at the National Memorial Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.
