Wilson "Red" John Lindsay

Red was born on August 8, 1927, in Platteville, Wisconsin, the only son of Earl and Lucille Lindsay. Upon graduating from high school in the spring of 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was stationed aboard a destroyer escort, tasked with sweeping Japanese harbors for mines immediately after World War II.

After being honorably discharged, Red enrolled in college to pursue a career as an industrial arts teacher and coach. However, after one semester, he realized his true passion was engineering. He transferred to the Wisconsin Institute of Technology (WIT). During this time, he served an additional three months on active duty in the Navy. He was called back to active duty in September 1950, just two months after marrying Dorothy Noyes of Dubuque, Iowa.

As a Machinist Mate 2nd Class, Red served aboard a troop ship transporting soldiers to and from Korea. He received eight service medals for his contributions during World War II and the Korean War. After his second discharge, he returned to WIT, graduating in 1952 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Red began his career with the Illinois Division of Highways in Paris, Illinois. In 1956, he joined Convair Aircraft in Fort Worth, Texas, as a structural test engineer during the development of the B-58 bomber. During this time, he became a Registered Professional Engineer in Texas.

In 1957, he transitioned to the Portland Cement Association in Chicago as a Highway Engineer, where he authored technical publications and contributed significantly to the advancement of slip-form paving for the Interstate System. He also became a Registered Professional Engineer in Illinois by examination.

In 1959, Red joined the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads (now known as the Federal Highway Administration) in Austin, Texas. He was promoted to Planning & Research Engineer in the Fort Worth Regional Office in 1963, eventually retiring in 1988 as Regional Research and Technology Transfer Engineer.

During his tenure, he received numerous awards for his groundbreaking work in highway safety, including the development and crash testing of sign supports, impact attenuators, guardrail end treatments, and rural mailbox supports.

Red served for 10 years on a National Academy of Science committee that established national highway standards, an honor reserved for state Chief Engineering Officers who usually rotated off of the committee after three years. Among his notable achievements, as a Contract Manager, he supervised several research projects which included electronic freeway surveillance and control on Central Expressway in Dallas. He also secured special funding for the first federally supported carpool program in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

While managing a crash test program at Texas A&M University, Red spearheaded efforts to design safer rural mailbox supports, saving an estimated 750 lives annually. He created multiple mailbox supports that became the standard across all 50 states. Though initially named the "Lindsay Design" by the manufacturer, he requested his name be removed due to his role as a federal employee.

After retiring from the FHWA, Red worked for Trinity Industries in Dallas as a Regional Engineer covering five states, advocating for improved guardrail safety nationwide. He convinced the states that the current turned down guardrail end treatment was hazardous. He was instrumental in the early adoption of the guardrail extruder developed at Texas A&M, now widely used across the country.

Red’s wife of 48 years, Dorothy, passed away during his time with Trinity Industries. Several years later, he met Carol Hooper at Westminster Presbyterian Church. They were engaged within a month and married on April Fool’s Day, April 1, 2000. Together, they shared almost 25 joyful years with their combined families.

Survivor’s: Red’s loving wife, Carol Lindsay of Fort Worth, Texas; her son, Jeff Erwin, (Terri); and four daughters: Linda Lindsay of Keller, Texas; Patricia Lindsay of Keller, Texas; Cindy Noffsinger (John) of Grapevine, Texas; and Judy Yuill (Rick) of Fort Worth, Texas. Red also had a beloved “adopted” daughter, Liz Klar of Keller, Texas.

Red is also survived by six grandchildren: Jason Noffsinger (Jennifer), Chelsea Noffsinger Ransom (Caleb), Trent Noffsinger (Samantha), Sophie Yuill, Zack Yuill, and Jackie Williams (deceased). Red was also blessed with many great-grandchildren.

The cremains of Red and Carol’s cherished dog, Zippy, will be laid to rest in the casket with Red.

A Celebration of Life for Wilson “Red” Lindsay will be held on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 7001 Trail Lake Drive, Fort Worth, TX. Reverend Liz Klar and Reverend Sherrolyn Weed will officiate.

An optional Visitation will take place beforehand, beginning at 10:00 a.m., for those who wish to attend.

All are invited to a Luncheon immediately following the service in the church’s Family Life Center. Interment will follow at 1:30 p.m. in the Veterans section of Laurel Land Memorial Park, 7100 Crowley Road, Fort Worth, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Red’s honor to Westminster Presbyterian Church, 7001 Trail Lake Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76133, or to Community Healthcare of Texas, 6100 Western Place, Suite 105, Fort Worth, TX 76107.

Thanks be to God for a life well-lived.

To view the Celebration of Life you can follow this link:

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