Wilson to receive Distinguished Service Award

The 亨廷顿 University Foundation is pleased to announce that 吉姆·威尔逊 is the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Service Award. Wilson will receive the award at the Foundation’s annual dinner on Thursday, September 26.

The 亨廷顿 University Foundation established the Distinguished Service Award in 2002 to recognize individuals or organizations that embody the principles associated with the mission of the University. Recipients are chosen because they give substance and credence to the University’s beliefs, make significant contributions to 亨廷顿 County and serve as effective role models for students.

Wilson and his wife, 格洛丽亚, joined the 亨廷顿 community in 1968 when he took a job as an economics and finance professor at 亨廷顿 University (then 亨廷顿 College). In addition to teaching, after a season as a volunteer baseball coach, Wilson took on the role of head coach of the Forester baseball team. He remained a full-time faculty member and a part-time coach during his time at 亨廷顿 College.

In the 13 years that Wilson was coach, the Foresters had six undefeated seasons, had a 90% conference winning percentage and claimed the conference championship 12 times, among many other achievements. Wilson was named Mid-Central Conference Coach of the Year 11 times and Indiana NAIA Baseball Coach of the Year twice. He was named Midwest Baseball Coach of the Year in 1974, one of eight in the nation. 另外, he and his team were responsible for developing Forest Glen Park from a pasture to an exemplary collegiate baseball facility. Wilson coordinated contributions that made it possible to do everything from reorienting the field to installing a new scoreboard at no cost to 亨廷顿 College.

In the greater 亨廷顿 community, Wilson’s many community service projects have included placing 2,500 American flags along the streets of 亨廷顿 annually for the Fourth of July for 20 years, serving as president of Habitat for Humanity and the Optimist Club and chairing the Optimist Club’s Back to School Clothing Project for 20 years. He was named Optimist of Year twice. He chaired the Free 社区 Thanksgiving Dinner, w在这里 Trinity United Methodist Church serves over 600 meals, 32年来.

另外, Wilson spent more than 40 years working in real estate sales, 评估, 发展, building and investment, directly or indirectly adding an estimated more than $50 million to the tax base in the City of 亨廷顿 and 亨廷顿 County. He retired from his real estate business, Wilson Realty and Development, Inc., in 2024 at 82 years of age.

Wilson is a 2002 亨廷顿 University Forester Hall of Fame inductee and a recipient of a Centennial Medallion.

The 亨廷顿 University Foundation annual dinner will begin at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 26, in the Merillat Complex (PLEX) on the campus of 亨廷顿 University. To learn more about the dinner and reserve a seat, visit 在这里. The reservation deadline is September 12.