Richard H. Wilson, Ph.D

"When Dr. Wilson became chief of the audiology section at the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California, in 1972, there was no audiology research program. He attracted a staff of research audiologists that made the program one of the most productive audiology research centers in the world. He made this possible by his remarkable grant-writing skills, which he taught to his young research staff, who themselves became successful in attracting research support. When he decided to return to his roots in northeast Tennessee and became chief of the audiology and speech pathology service at the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center, the pattern repeated. He attracted young investigators, mentored them in the grant-writing process, and created one of the most productive audiology research centers in the world....The list of young investigators and mentees who have benefitted from their collaboration with Dr. Wilson is too long to include here but reads like a Who's Who of audiology research. That is what he wanted to accomplish in his professional work—to raise the level of the profession by setting an example of high standards."