Bill and Carolyn Cobb - “A Gift for Teaching”
Bill Cobb
A respect for good teachers is something William M. "Bill" Cobb learned from his father, who taught agriculture in their small town of Kewanee.
The younger Cobb followed his father's footsteps and furthered his education at Mississippi State. However, he deviated from his dad's pursuit of agriculture by choosing to study engineering.
"I always knew I was going to Mississippi State," Cobb said. "I was a Bulldog from the day I was born because my dad had gone to MSU. The university was there for me, and over the years as a student and then as a faculty member, I developed relationships and friendships that continue today."
Cobb received bachelor's and master's degrees in petroleum engineering from MSU in 1966 and 1967, respectively. Later, he earned a doctorate at Stanford University.
He returned to Mississippi State in the 1970s and taught petroleum engineering. Following his stint from 1972-75 as an assistant professor, he went on to a successful career in petroleum engineering and geological consulting.
Carolyn Cobb
Cobb has marked his 25th year with the highly successful consulting firm he founded with his wife, Carolyn, a business education graduate of the University of Oklahoma. William M. Cobb & Associates provides petroleum engineering and geological consulting services internationally, and also teaches industry short courses.
Cobb remains loyal to the institution that provided him with an educational background for his distinguished career. Together, he and Carolyn are ensuring good teachers are available for MSU engineering students with the creation of an endowment for a departmental faculty chair.
Several years ago, the Texas couple established an endowed chair in the university's James Worth Bagley College of Engineering to be filled by a faculty member serving in a department chair position. The Bill and Carolyn Cobb Chair provides enhanced research and teaching activities in the college.
"We wanted to help young men and women reach out for their dreams, and maybe even go beyond them," Cobb said of the gift. "We also hope it will provide encouragement to others to support MSU or the college of their choice."
