Mr. Wilkerson is the personification of what a public servant can be and can accomplish.

Throughout his 50 years of service, his vision for public safety and the knowledge of the transforming nature that transportation brings to the public drove his career.

Mr. Wilkerson started his career with the Bureau of Public Roads in 1959 after graduating in civil engineering from the University of Tennessee. He held numerous positions before being promoted to Division Administrator in Alabama in 1983.

During his career, Mr. Wilkerson was involved in design and construction of many state and interstate roads across the Southeast. A champion of "superpave," he worked with the Alabama Department of Transportation to distribute promotional messages and literature concerning vehicle safety and was a friend and mentor to all who crossed his path.

Mr. Wilkerson has received numerous performance awards, including the Administrator's Award for Superior Achievement and the Secretary's Award for Meritorious Achievement. He was the recipient of the Administrator's Heartland Award in 2002 and the Fung Memorial Award in 2004 for contributions towards achieving Federal Highway Administration's civil rights goals.

Mr. Wilkerson and his wife, Ruth, celebrated 50 years of marriage in October 2004. They have three children: Mark, David and Anne.