Did you know the University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Applied Science has a Hall of Fame? Among its distinguished members is Wayman Chung Wing (1923-2020), whose journey from facing discrimination to international acclaim exemplifies resilience, innovation, and barrier-breaking achievement.
A Wyoming Beginning with Unexpected Challenges
Growing up in Evanston as a first-generation Chinese American, Wing enrolled at the University of Wyoming in 1941 to pursue engineering. But his academic journey soon revealed the barriers of his era. In 1942, despite his academic excellence, Wing was denied entry into an honorary engineering fraternity because of a “Caucasians Only” clause in their constitution.
This setback coincided with global turmoil. After news of Pearl Harbor reached the U.S., Wing’s education took a detour when he joined the Army Air Corps. “I joined the Army Air Corps and waited to be called up,” he recounted in his 2006 memoir housed at the American Heritage Center.
Finding Cultural Connection Through Military Service
By 1943, Wing’s aptitude for science earned him selection for specialized training. “I was an engineering student with a background in science courses. I was one of a group of 175 sent by the Army Air Corp to an accelerated meteorology course at New York University,” Wing wrote.
This deployment proved unexpectedly meaningful in ways beyond military service. Growing up in Wyoming, Wing had limited exposure to Chinese American communities. In New York, this changed dramatically: “I enjoyed the nine months in New York because I met more Chinese friends and experienced Chinese culture more than ever before in Wyoming.”
With characteristic humor, Wing noted he passed the demanding meteorology program despite “the large amount of beer [he] consumed.” After training, he served at a British base on Terceira Island in the Azores during WWII, where his weather forecasting supported critical Allied operations.
Breaking Through Barriers
Following the war, Wing returned to Wyoming, completing his Civil Engineering degree in 1947. The sting of the “Caucasians Only” clause remained, but Wing wasn’t alone in recognizing this injustice. Several faculty members joined his fight against the discriminatory policy. Their combined efforts paid off—in 1949, seven years after his initial rejection, Wing was finally inducted into the Omega Chapter of Sigma Tau (now known as Tau Beta Pi).
Wing’s academic excellence earned him acceptance to Stanford University for his master’s degree. There, he found “the engineering studies much easier than at UW”—a testament to the solid foundation provided by his Wyoming education. At Stanford, Wing deliberately expanded his knowledge, taking additional courses in law and business alongside his engineering curriculum.
From Student to Revolutionary Engineer
After earning his master’s in 1948, Wing worked in the industry for about a decade before making a bold decision that would define his career: founding Wayman C. Wing Consulting Engineers in 1960.
His timing intersected perfectly with growing international demand for safer building designs. Wing pioneered revolutionary approaches to earthquake-resistant structures at a time when conventional wisdom often fell short. His innovations earned the trust of prestigious clients like the Hilton and Sheraton hotel chains.
Wing’s earthquake-absorbent designs shaped skylines worldwide. The Meridien Hotel in Egypt, the Great Wall Hotel in China (particularly meaningful given his heritage), the Hartford National Bank, the Indonesian Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair, and the Washington Hilton Hotel all incorporated his innovative approaches to structural safety.
Recognition and Hall of Fame Induction
The University of Wyoming recognized Wing’s achievements through the H.T. Person Endowment Committee and named a Civil Engineering classroom in his honor. His military service received recognition with a nomination for a Congressional Medal of Honor.
In 1999, nearly four decades after launching his firm and over half a century after facing discrimination as a student, Wing was inducted into the University of Wyoming College of Engineering and Applied Science Hall of Fame. The institution that had once been the site of exclusion now celebrated him as one of its most distinguished graduates.
A Legacy of Opening Doors
Wing understood how education had transformed his own possibilities. His commitment to helping future generations was expressed in his characteristic humility: “If I can contribute in some small way to enhance the College’s reputation and possibly motivate subsequent generations of student engineers, I certainly am deeply honored to give it a good old ‘Rag Time Cowboy Try.’”
This commitment took tangible form through numerous scholarships established by Wing and his family, including the Roger G. Wing Scholarship, the Wong Gin Wing Family Scholarship, the Susan Mc Cormack Scholarship, the Dr. Sandra M. Wing Veterinary Scholarship, and the Eugenia C. Wing & Ursula R. Foster Scholarship.
Wing and his five siblings all graduated from college as first-generation Chinese Americans—a remarkable achievement for that era. His success opened doors for others, creating opportunities far beyond what he could have imagined when facing that “Caucasians Only” clause as a young student.
For those interested in exploring this Hall of Fame engineer’s remarkable journey in greater depth, the Wayman C. Wing papers at the American Heritage Center provides insights into a life defined by breaking barriers and building bridges—both literally and figuratively.
Information for this post provided by University of Wyoming English Department graduate students Katelyn Hayward, Cheyenne Hume, and Makayla Kocher for Dr. Nancy Small’s Spring 2025 course “Qualitative Analysis: Inquiry for Public Humanities Engagement.”
