BOB WILSON

Most people shy away from volunteer commitments that involve long night meetings, listening to angry neighbors, and reading technical staff reports that can cure even the worst cases of insomnia. Volunteers that serve on the Planning Commission may not make it to the end of their terms, let alone serve multiple terms.  These are a few reasons why Bob Wilson’s 43 years of service on the Dallas Planning Commission is so extraordinary. Bob has been a valuable asset and the institutional memory of the Commission for more than four decades.

Bob was sworn in to serve on the Planning Commission on August 5, 1974. At that time, Senate Bill 100, which adopted the statewide land use system, was still in its infancy and the City of Dallas was embarking on the development of its first Comprehensive Plan. Since then Bob has been an integral part of the development of three Comprehensive Plans in Dallas, in addition to a fourth update now underway.   Through his tenure on the Planning Commission, Bob also witnessed the City’s population more than double and he served as a leader on the City’s early efforts to organize a Downtown Association. He has attended over five hundred Planning Commission meetings and served under four different City Managers.

During a special recognition of Bob’s dedicated service to the City of Dallas on August 8, 2017, fellow Planning Commissioners noted the following admirable traits about Bob:

• Planning Commission Chair Chuck Lerwick, “Thank you, Bob, for being on the Planning Commission all these 40+ years.  I have enjoyed the years that we have been on the Commission together.  You have always been a rock standing up for the decisions we as a Commission have made and always taking time to hear our citizens’ point of view as well.   We have had some wild times during the building boom and some slow times too but I cannot think of a better person to share them with than you Bob.”
• Commissioner Carol Kowash noted, “Bob was very helpful with my training as a Commissioner, and showed a very level decision-making process. He is quite thoughtful about how decisions affect members of the community.”

Thank you Bob for your tireless service in making the City of Dallas a better place!