Ralph Wilson: Mr. Recreation (1926-1985)
A native of Oklahoma, Mr. Wilson devoted his entire working life to bettering the recreation field. Even before receiving BA and MA degrees from Colorado College in Colorado Spring, Mr. Wilson was preparing himself for a career in the recreation profession, first working as a playground director for the Colorado Springs Recreation Department
Before leaving the Colorado Spring department three years later, he was director of athletics and assistant supervisor of recreation. In 1948, Mr. Wilson became supervisor of playgrounds and recreation centers for the Metropolitan Park District and Tacoma School Board in Tacoma, WA. Later, with degree in hand, Mr. Wilson was named director of recreation at the U.S. Public Health Service Hospital in Carville, LA.
In 1951, Mr. Wilson returned to Washington state as a recreation specialist for the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission in Seattle. After three years in Seattle, Mr. Wilson traveled south to Huntington Park, CA, where he was director of the city’s recreation and parks department.
In 1958, Mr. Wilson was selected as command recreation director for the U.S. Air Force, serving in Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. During his stay in Europe, he became the charter president of the European Recreation Society (ERS), serving a two-year term beginning in 1959. At the close of his term, Mr. Wilson received the ERS Presidential Citation, and prior to returning to the United States in 1962, he was presented an Honorary Lifetime Membership with ERS.
Mr. Wilson, in 1962, became director of recreation and parks in Arlington County, VA, where he served for two years. In 1964, Mr. Wilson was named recreation specialist with the Soil Conservation Service, a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he worked until his retirement in April. He was assistant director of the Soil Conservation Service’s Ecological Sciences Division at the time of his retirement.
Throughout his career, Mr. Wilson’s reputation was that of a leader. A look at the list of professional and civic organizations he was actively involved in leaves no doubt of this fact. He was a member of the American Park and Recreation Society (APRS) branch, receiving the group’s Distinguished Fellow Award in 1966 and serving as APRS vice president in 1967; he was a long-time member of the California Park and Recreation Society, serving on its board of directors (1957-58) and as its treasurer (1957-58) and district president (1955-56); he was a member of the Virginia Recreation and Park Society, serving on its board of directors (1963) and its editorial advisory board (1966-67); and he was a member of the International Recreation Association, where he served as special representative for Europe, North Africa, and the Near East (1959-62) and was a member of the International Professional Advisory Board (1966-67).
But Mr. Wilson’s real passion was the National Recreation and Park Association, which he had been a part of since 1947, when it was the National Recreation Association. During his 38 year affiliation with NRA and NRPA, Mr. Wilson served on various committees too numerous to mention; was treasurer in 1964, first vice president in 1965 (as well as chairman of the National Recreation Congress Program Committee), and president in 1966.
Additionally, Mr. Wilson was the U.S. representative for the International Federation of Park and Recreation Administration; president-elect of the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administration; and president of the National Water Safety Congress.
As might be expected, Mr. Wilson was the recipient of many honors citing his exemplary service to the recreation and park field. As recently as April, he received a special recognition honor from the Northern Virginia Park and Recreation Administrators. During its Mid-Year meeting in Boise, Idaho a few days after Mr. Wilson’s death, the NRPA board of Trustees conducted a special memorial service to pay tribute to one of the recreation profession’s most universally esteemed leaders.
Several long-time friends and colleagues, including NRPA Chairman Harry G. Haskell Jr., trustees James D. Ruth and Mary E. Grogan, past trustees Roger K. Brown and Ruth E. Pike, and Executive Director Davis, shared their feelings, their memories, and their appreciation for Ralph C. Wilson.
"Ralph was a man who brought much to this country, and to those who tried to provide leadership," said Haskell. "It was clear to me that of all the people in this association and in recreation throughout the country, he was a man who had vision, who wanted recreation to take its rightful place. And most of all, he left me with one thought: In his wisdom, I think, he believed that this could only be accomplished if our professional people and our lay people would work together."