Image: The restored memorial at the Gregory E. Willocks Substation honors Gregory E. Willocks’ service to WAPA and the Virgin Islands.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS (October 9, 2026) — The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (“WAPA” or “the Authority”) is honoring the legacy of Gregory E. Willocks during Public Power Week (October 4–10, 2026), following a recent collaboration with the Willocks family to restore the memorial at the substation dedicated in his honor.
Public power is built by people—the engineers who design and improve systems, the crews who maintain and restore them, and the employees who work every day to provide essential electric and water services to the communities they call home. The story of Gregory Willocks reflects that legacy and the lasting impact that WAPA employees can have on the community.
Willocks began his career with WAPA in 1979 and went on to serve in several roles, ultimately serving as Assistant Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. He made significant contributions to the Authority’s electric and water systems, including helping secure one of the first large-capacity waste heat recovery boilers for the Estate Richmond Power Plant on St. Croix. The project improved plant efficiency while reducing fuel use and emissions.
The Gregory E. Willocks Substation was dedicated in his honor in 2014, recognizing his years of service and contributions to WAPA and the Virgin Islands. When the Willocks family reached out about restoring the area surrounding the substation and its commemorative sign, WAPA was honored to assist the family to refresh the site through replanting, landscaping and the installation of a new sign bearing his name.
"It was an honor and a privilege to have worked alongside Mr. Willocks. It is a tremendous pleasure to honor his memory, as he was an inspiration to many young engineers, including myself. I truly appreciate his work and the legacy he has left behind," said WAPA CEO and Executive Director Karl Knight.
Belgrave Stedman, Electrical Engineer IV, who also worked as an engineer alongside Mr. Willocks, supported the Willocks family in coordinating the restoration and renewing a place that carries an important part of WAPA’s history.
“Mr. Willocks was not only a respected engineer, but a colleague whose knowledge and experience I greatly respected. Helping his family restore this site was a special way to honor his memory and the contributions he made to WAPA,” said Mr. Stedman.
For the Willocks family, the substation is more than an electrical facility. It is a lasting reminder of a husband and father whose work became part of the infrastructure serving the Virgin Islands.
“Sixteen years after his passing, it is deeply meaningful to see Gregory Willocks’ dedication and service to the Water and Power Authority continue to be remembered and honored. He gave so much of himself to WAPA and to the people of this island. His commitment was never simply a job—it was a responsibility he carried with pride, especially during the most difficult times,” said his widow, Cheryl Willocks.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Hugo, Mrs. Willocks said Mr. Willocks’ commitment to WAPA and the community was especially evident.
“He worked tirelessly, day and night, alongside his fellow WAPA employees to help restore power across the island. He understood how essential electricity was to families, businesses, hospitals, and the entire community, and he would not rest until he knew he had done everything he could to help bring the island back to life.
His family is incredibly proud of the legacy he left behind. We know he would be humbled to know that, years later, his work is still remembered and that his name remains connected to the mission he cared so deeply about,” said Mrs. Willocks.
That legacy continues through the employees who serve WAPA today. Engineers, lineworkers, plant operators, water professionals, mechanics, customer service representatives and others work behind the scenes to keep essential services moving and prepare WAPA for the future.
The renewed Gregory E. Willocks Substation stands as a reminder of the generations of people who have helped build the Virgin Islands and of those who continue the work today, in powering our islands together.
The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Communications department is committed to reaching, informing, and connecting with the youngest members of the community to the eldest, through meaningful, transparent and effective communication.
###