Remembering Will Workman, 1990-2024
Will Workman, a structural engineer who had spent his entire career at Freese and Nichols, died Dec. 13. He was 34.
A project manager on our Bridge Services team, Will was particularly experienced in bridge inspections and bridge repair designs, and he was well-known for his leadership of both inspection teams and his Freese and Nichols coworkers.
Will began his journey with Freese and Nichols as a summer intern in 2011. Brad Watson, Senior Structural Engineer, recalls hiring Will and being immediately impressed by his work ethic and dedication.
“We kind of joked about his name, Workman, because he was such a hard worker,” Brad shared. “One of Will’s first tasks as an intern involved climbing into tub girders at DFW Airport, a challenging and uncomfortable job. Despite the tough conditions, Will was determined. I remember Will saying, ‘Hey, I think we have time to do another one,’ and that’s when I knew he was hired.”
After receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University in 2012, Will joined Freese and Nichols full-time in the Fort Worth office. Throughout his career, he worked on numerous high-profile projects. He served as the construction phase structural engineer on-site for the Trinity River Vision (TRV) bridges, which were particularly challenging.
“The TRV bridges were a tough job and emotionally draining, but Will did a great job and owned it for us,” said Brad.
“He was just good with people in general,” said Structural Group Manager Misty Thomison, who worked in the same group as Will his whole time here. “As a project manager, he worked well with clients and knew how to have tough conversations where everyone felt good at the end of the day. He knew how to hold firm but still be kind.”
Muna Mitchell, Bridge Team Lead Engineer, echoed Misty’s sentiments, emphasizing Will’s technical expertise and interpersonal abilities.
“Will often took on the toughest projects because of his exceptional technical skills and his ability to connect with people,” said Muna. “He was respected by his clients, led meetings confidently and competently, and made us all look good.”
Early on in his career, Will was diagnosed with cancer. Despite his illness, he still had the same enthusiasm for his work.
“He was undergoing cancer treatments while working on the Bois d’Arc Dam project,” Misty said. “He would work on the model during his treatments because it had pretty colors that impressed everyone around him. Who else works during cancer treatments? Will was one of the only people I know who would do that.”
Ultimately, he was able to beat cancer through treatments and remained cancer free.
Will was known for his willingness to help others. He took the time to review a rushed project and provided valuable feedback, demonstrating his commitment to improving any task he was involved in. His steady demeanor and ability to handle stressful situations with grace made him a reliable and respected team member.
Will followed in his family’s footsteps by working at Freese and Nichols. His grandfather, Joel Werland, and his uncle, William McDonald, formerly worked at the firm.
Beyond his professional life, Will was a devoted family man. He often shared pictures and stories of his daughter, Wren, and showed a deep commitment to his family. When his daughter developed a dairy allergy, Will gave up dairy in solidarity with his wife, Claire, who was breastfeeding.
Will also had a passion for the outdoors. Misty recalled that Will and Claire got married on a mountain with just their dogs as witnesses.
“One of the first things on their baby registry was a baby hiking backpack so they could take Wren with them on their hikes,” Misty shared.
His adventurous spirit carried over into his work life. He enjoyed field inspections, even in thigh-deep water with snakes around. Will’s consistent growth and his readiness to take on new challenges were recognized by his peers and supervisors alike.
Will was slated to start supervising all of the EITs in the bridge team starting January 1.
“He was the best example of our company’s values,” Muna said. “His character was so strong, and I felt confident about him being the future leader of the group.”
From an eager intern to a respected leader, the key traits that made Will successful in the beginning continued to shine throughout his career. His dedication to his work, his colleagues, his adventurous spirit and his love for his family are the legacies he leaves behind.
Remembering Will
