Darrell Keith Wilder grew up in St. Mary’s, Georgia, the son of the late Morris and Toma Jean Wilder. A graduate of Camden County High School (1974), he earned a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Georgia in 1984. He began working for Georgia Power in 1986 and continued until his retirement in 2014 as South Regional Sales Manager II. Darrell is a certified energy manager with the Association of Energy Engineers. He was actively involved in several community outreach organizations. He served as chair of the industry committee of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the North Valdosta Rotary Club, as a board member of the YMCA, and as a member of Leadership Lowndes. In 2008, Governor Perdue appointed Darrell as the First Congressional District Representative on the Board of Early Care and Learning. Darrell was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, an uncommon brain disorder, in 2011. Darrell and his wife, Sara, have two children, Emmaline and Phillip. Darrell also has a brother, Danny.
This scholarship in honor of Darrell was established by friends Jeff and Lori Lovell of Valdosta. This scholarship, which is generously funded by the Lovells, is intended to support students from South Georgia, excluding Savannah and Columbus, who are studying engineering at the University of Georgia. Preference will be given to rising juniors and seniors majoring in civil, agricultural and environmental engineering.