WILSON, Richard O. 1918-1984

WILSON, DICK

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 8/16/2002 at 22:45:23

The Clinton Herald Wednesday July 18, 1984 p. 14 A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the First Presbyterian Church for Richard O. Wilson of Key Biscayne, Fla., former Clinton industrialist and civic leader, who died Saturday. The Rev. Leslie Pritchard will conduct the service. Wilson was born in Clinton, Dec. 9, 1918, the son of Mr. and Mrs. G.E. Wilson. He attended Shattuck Military Academy at Faribault, Minn., Dartmouth College at Hanover, N.H. and was graduated from Northwestern University. He married Virginia Dick in Winnetka, Ill., and for a time during World War II they lived in Washington, D.C., while Wilson served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Upon his return to Clitnon he entered the family business, the Clinton Bridge and Iron Works, which had been purchased by his father in 1892. He served as vice-president of the firm until its sale to Allied Structural Steel Co. in 1964. He subsequently was named president of the General Engineering Co. which handled heating equipment and fuel oil. After the death of his father, he and his brother, G.E. "Ted" Wilson Jr., assumed management of the family's holdings which included the Wilson Building. Wilson was one of the three founders of the Clinton Development Co. in the early 1950's and served 13 years as its president. He served as a director and president of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, president of the Clinton Country Club, was a member of the Clinton Airport Commission and held offices in a number of civic organizations. The Wilson brothers moved to Florida in 1966 but continued to maintain an office here. Surviving are his wife; three sons, Charles, Thomas and Robert, all of Florida; and four grandchildren. His parents and one brother preceded him in death.