Ed Wilson (1990) - Hall of Fame - University of Akron Athletics

Ed Wilson

Induction:
1990
Class:
1964

1961-63
Basketball/Track
Shot Put
‘64

Success has followed Ed Wilson throughout life, success brought about by dedication, hard work and perseverance. These attitudes carried him through The University of Akron while earning a degree in physical education, on the basketball court and on the track as an athlete, during illustrious 24-year military career and currently his involvement with a company associated with NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. However, tonight ED Wilson is being honored for the success he had as a Zip athlete from 1960-1963. During the three-year span, Wilson excelled in both basketball and in track, earning three letters in each. As a cager for Hall of Famer Tony Laterza, Wilson was a two-year starter (1961-63, two-year team captain (1961-63), top scorer (1962-63) and Most Valuable Player (1961-62) while the Zips were compiling a three-season record of 58 wins in 74 games. In earning the MVP Award, Wilson’s overall contribution had to be impressive since he was outscored and outrebounded by his younger brother, Lonnie, and future NBA player and Hall of Famer, Billy Turner. As a senior, Ed led UA to its most wins in 62 seasons of basketball on campus with a 22-3 mark. It earned the Zips their highest national ranking up to that time, 5th in the UPI poll and 6th in the AP. In a day that saw tight defensive struggles. Wilson paced UA in the scoring department despite averaging just 11.2 point a game. Ed enjoyed an equally successful career in track under the late great Hall of Fame coach, Tom Evans. During Wilson’s three seasons as
shot-putter and discus thrower, the Zip thinclade completed Championship all three seasons. In addition, UA was the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship in 1962 and ’63. Wilson, who was the OC shot put champion in 1963, broke both the shot put and discus school records in 1961 and rebroke them in each of the subsequent two seasons. In 1965, Wilson entered the U.S. Army as an infantry officer. During his illustrious 24-year career in which he rose to rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Wilson was decorated combat veteran of the war in Vietnam and had tours of duty in Germany, Hawaii, Guam and Korea. Currently, he is a subcontract administrator with RUST International in Huntsville, Alabama. Wilson has three children. Victoria, a 1986 graduate of UA, Curtis, a former Beacon Journal Player of the Year and Ohio State basketball standout, and Sharon. Wilson had the honor of commissioning both daughters, Victoria, a Captain in the Air Force and Sharon, a Lieutenant in the Army.