Former Automotive Industries Publisher dies April 29

Robert A. Wilson, who served in a variety of management positions at Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications including president and chief executive officer, died April 29. He was 68.

Wilson joined Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications in 1979 as vice president and editorial director for North American magazines. Nine years later he became general manager of the company’s headquarters operation in Wisconsin, and in 1991 was named president. In 2005, after a stint in Detroit as publisher of DGTP’s Automotive Industries magazine, he returned to the company’s Waukesha, Wis., headquarters as CEO, a position he held until his retirement in spring 2007.

Along with his management responsibilities, Wilson was an active contributor to the editorial of DGTP publications, authoring nearly 500 feature articles for Diesel Progress, Diesel & Gas Turbine Worldwide and CompressorTechTwo. He was also publisher of the Diesel & Gas Turbine Worldwide Catalog from 1991 to 2002. A devotee of the written word in all of its forms, he was renowned for being able to declaim long passages from poets and authors such as Robert Burns and Lewis Carroll, and his enjoyment of puns and clever wordplay.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Rusty, and sons Joel and Richard. Condolences may be sent to Rusty Wilson, 1035 Simon Drive, Brookfield, WI 53005. Automotive Industries joins Rob Wilson’s many friends and acquaintances in mourning his passing, may Rob Wilson’s memory be blessed