Faculty

Man of many missions
Paul Weckler’s journey leaves little left undone
By Stacy Buck, Altus, Okla.

His thick mustache conceals a mischievous grin. One can expect to see him in cowboy boots and aviator sunglasses. His tall stature may seem intimidating at first, but his contagious chuckle is welcoming. An engineer, a mentor, a colleague and a friend, Paul Weckler embodies the persona of a family man.
           
Interested in agriculture at a young age, Weckler said he enjoyed visiting his grandparents' farm and first rode in a combine at age four. With his mother a leader in 4-H, his involvement in the program as a child — along with his experience showing cattle, sheep and swine at local fairs — helped shape him into the agriculturist he is today.
           
"I always liked animals but I didn't have the stomach to be a vet," Weckler said.
           
Upon high school graduation, Weckler obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural engineering at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in 1982.
           
The Cal Poly College of Agriculture was one of the top 10 biggest in the country, and his degree program used a "learning by doing" approach, which Weckler incorporates in his teaching.
           
After graduating, Weckler ventured east to acquire his master's degree in irrigation and agricultural engineering from Utah State University in 1984.
           
He moved farther to the east to Oklahoma State University as a part of a national doctorate fellowship program offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
           
"The USDA brought me here, and the people were just great," Weckler said.
           
Weckler earned his doctorate in agricultural engineering from OSU in 1989.
           
"I was a Ph.D. student at OSU when Barry Sanders and Garth Brooks were here," Weckler said. "The ag engineering department hired Garth to play at a barbecue."
           
Weckler began his teaching career as an assistant professor in agricultural engineering at Virginia Tech. He then worked in private industry before returning to Cal Poly, where he taught for several years. He returned to OSU in 2000 as an assistant professor and brought Cal Poly's "hands-on" approach to his classes.
           
Some of Weckler's experience gained in the private and academic world ranges from irrigation and water system design to food and crop processing to field deployment and data reduction of airborne optical sensor systems. His experiences continue to benefit his students.
           
"He gives students the tools and resources needed to succeed and lets them do things their own way," said Ryan Woolbright, a 2006 senior design team member.
           
Among the 17 courses Weckler has taught at Cal Poly and OSU is the biosystems and agricultural engineering capstone course, the senior design team project.
           
This two-semester course organizes the class into three- or four-person teams. The course allows the students to get "real-life" experience in agricultural engineering. Students learn the importance of budgeting, scheduling and interacting with clients, among many other lessons, Weckler said.
           
"When I took over the senior design course, I had a group of top-notch students," he said. "They asked for a 'real-world' experience, so that's what I gave them."
           
Weckler laughed about his apprehension of the project.
           
"Finding the clients was tough at first," Weckler said. "But after a few years, you develop a track record that you can point to."
           
The senior design program certainly has bragging rights as teams from OSU have won first place in the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers AGCO National Student Design Competition three of the last four years.
           
One of the projects a team developed included RoboPig, a life-sized pig on wheels that sprays artificial boar pheromones to excite sows for artificial insemination. Other projects include a 42-foot folding disk students welded and assembled themselves and the mechanical bucking horse project that simulated the rocking movements of a horse rather than a mechanical bull.
           
"RoboPig was definitely interesting," Weckler said, "along with the horse, but the disk was by far the biggest project."
           
Weckler improves the senior design team project each year, which makes the course exciting, Woolbright said.
           
"The success of the course starts with the instructor," said Ron Elliott, BAE department head. "The two-semester sequence is very intensive, but he provides strong leadership and he is a great mentor."
           
The entire BAE department and faculty are involved with the senior design classes, and most know the students by first name, Weckler said.
           
"I am certainly aware of all senior design projects," Elliott said, "but Dr. Weckler manages them. I just try to encourage and facilitate. I am very proud of the senior design students' accomplishments."
           
While some design projects have won awards, all projects are valuable to the students and the BAE department.
           
"Each design project is valuable because of the tremendous experience gained by the students," Elliott said. "The key part of the course is preparing the graduates for their careers. Their success is reflected in all the positive feedback we get from companies about our graduates."
           
Weckler's strength, faithfulness, perseverance, determination, talent, knowledge and passion for education represent who he is, Elliott said.
           
"He's a multi-talented individual, technically strong and knowledgeable in a variety of topics," Elliott said. "He's current in research and in the application of technology. He stays up-to-date with the 'real world.'"
           
Weckler's humility toward his accomplishments and way of giving credit to others instead of himself sets him apart.
           
"If the students weren't enthusiastic, this program wouldn't be happening," Weckler said. "We have great students with a good work ethic."
           
Although Weckler values the achievements from his successful career, he holds his family closest to his heart.
           
After a pond accident took his 8-year-old son, David, three years ago, Weckler said he realized the most important things in life: his wife, Stephanie, and their two daughters, Karen and Susan, now ages 7 and 9. David's memory remains important to the family.
           
"It re-oriented what our priorities really are," Weckler said. "But his mom got to spend his entire life with him through home schooling. Other parents do not always have that. I know it's something she really holds onto."
           
Weckler said he received tremendous support from OSU BAE faculty and his colleagues while he was recovering emotionally after the accident. The BAE department established a public speaking award through the Payne County 4-H program in honor of David.
           
"The loss of a child is the most difficult thing a parent could endure," Elliott said. "Paul has persevered and relied on his faith and his family to help him cope with this devastating personal tragedy. They have kept a positive outlook, and I don't know how he kept up with all of his work. He has a great inner strength."
           
The family resides on a farm near Glencoe, Okla., and Stephanie Weckler continues to home-school the girls. Karen and Susan Weckler raise bucket calves and sheep, and they are also active in their church and in their local 4-H club, where their parents are volunteer leaders.
           
The Wecklers often are found in Stillwater participating in several activities ranging from gymnastics to soccer to violin lessons. The girls enjoy the time spent with their mother during home-schooling and with their father attending their numerous games, recitals and livestock shows.
           
Even though his life and schedule are busy as a college professor, Weckler balances the tasks of being an engineer, mentor, colleague, friend and father. He and his family cherish their memory of David and remain committed to the lifestyle they have chosen, and they are happily tucked deeply in rural Oklahoma.

Paul Weckler, his wife, Stephanie, and their daughters, Susan (left) and Karen, visit Theta Pond. (Photo by Stacy Buck)

Susan Weckler feeds her bucket calf at home with her father. (Photo by Stacy Buck)

Paul Weckler assists Becca Hoey in class as Jason Unruh observes. (Photo by Stacy Buck)

David Weckler shows awards won at Payne County fair. (Photo by Paul Weckler)

Susan (left) and Karen Weckler visit Theta Pond. (Photo by Stacy Buck)