James A. 'Big Jim' Wilson,
83, of Westfield, passed away on Saturday, June 2, 2012 at St. Vincent Hospital
in Carmel. He was born on January 20, 1929 to James A. 'Pud' and Dora
(Schurman) Wilson in Lafayette, Indiana. His parents precede him in death.
Jim was a 1947 graduate of West Lafayette High School and a 1951 graduate of Purdue University. He proudly served his country as a Captain in the U.S. Army and a Korean War veteran. Among his many accomplishments, he had been the Sports Announcer and Director for WSBT & WSBT TV in South Bend for nine years; the Sports Director and Anchor for WISH-TV in Indianapolis for 11 years; the CEO of a television production company for 11 years; and had worked independently as a producer/director until his retirement. He was named Sportscaster of the Year in Indiana five times by the National Sportscasters & Sportswriters Association, of which he was a charter member, and served on their governing board for 10 years. He had been the pit announcer for nationwide Indy Car racing for ABC-TV, CBS-TV, & TVS; and the pit announcer for nationwide Theater TV of the Indianapolis 500. He was a member and Past-President of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association and a member and current President of the Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers. He was also a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Westfield; John Purdue Club; Purdue Alumni Association; Phi Gamma Delta; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara Wilson; sons, Jim (Barbara) Wilson & Doug Wilson; daughter, Kathy (Ed) Collins; son, Joe Wilson; four grandchildren, Eddie Collins, Casey James Collins, Dylan Hobbs & Jessica Hobbs; and one great-grandchild, Landon Nealson.
Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, June 8, 2012, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 4283 East 191st Street in Westfield, with Rev. Tim Krupski officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, June 7, 2012 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Randall & Roberts Funeral Center, 1685 Westfield Road in Noblesville. Burial will be at Hamilton Memorial Park Cemetery in Westfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to International Association of Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers, Inc, PO Box 24404, Speedway, IN 45224-0404; or, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 4283 East 191st Street, Westfield, IN 46074.
Jim was a 1947 graduate of West Lafayette High School and a 1951 graduate of Purdue University. He proudly served his country as a Captain in the U.S. Army and a Korean War veteran. Among his many accomplishments, he had been the Sports Announcer and Director for WSBT & WSBT TV in South Bend for nine years; the Sports Director and Anchor for WISH-TV in Indianapolis for 11 years; the CEO of a television production company for 11 years; and had worked independently as a producer/director until his retirement. He was named Sportscaster of the Year in Indiana five times by the National Sportscasters & Sportswriters Association, of which he was a charter member, and served on their governing board for 10 years. He had been the pit announcer for nationwide Indy Car racing for ABC-TV, CBS-TV, & TVS; and the pit announcer for nationwide Theater TV of the Indianapolis 500. He was a member and Past-President of the American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association and a member and current President of the Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers. He was also a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Westfield; John Purdue Club; Purdue Alumni Association; Phi Gamma Delta; American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Barbara Wilson; sons, Jim (Barbara) Wilson & Doug Wilson; daughter, Kathy (Ed) Collins; son, Joe Wilson; four grandchildren, Eddie Collins, Casey James Collins, Dylan Hobbs & Jessica Hobbs; and one great-grandchild, Landon Nealson.
Services will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, June 8, 2012, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 4283 East 191st Street in Westfield, with Rev. Tim Krupski officiating. Visitation will be Thursday, June 7, 2012 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Randall & Roberts Funeral Center, 1685 Westfield Road in Noblesville. Burial will be at Hamilton Memorial Park Cemetery in Westfield.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to International Association of Indianapolis 500 Oldtimers, Inc, PO Box 24404, Speedway, IN 45224-0404; or, Lord of Life Lutheran Church, 4283 East 191st Street, Westfield, IN 46074.
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