Robert W. Wilson
Dublin Core
Title
Robert W. Wilson
Subject
Young Men's Christian Association of North America; Basketball--History
Wilson, Robert W.; YMCA; YMCAHall of Fame; Milwaukee YMCA; Newark YMWCA; Detroit YMCA; New York YMCA
Description
Portrait photograph of Robert W. Wilson. Robert Wilson was an outstanding basketball player at West Virginia State College, and after graduation, played for the Harlem Globetrotters, Chicago Stags, and Tri-City Blackhawks. He was one of the first men to break the NBA color barrier.
After his basketball career, he became a teacher in North Carolina. In 1955, he accepted his first YMCA position as the youth director in the Milwaukee association. While there, he developed the first Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y training for YMCAs, as well as innovative outreach programs. He also served YMCAs in Dayton (Ohio) and Detroit (Mich.). Wilson became the chief executive officer of the YMWCA of Newark (N.J.) in 1970, the first African-American to lead a metropolitan YMCA.
Under his leadership, the Y gained solid financial footing while expanding its inner-city child care center and youth programs. In 1978, he joined the national staff as regional associate executive for the Northeast region, and later became the Management Resource Center (MRC) director for the YMCA of Greater New York. In 1989, he was appointed executive vice president of the YMCA Retirement Fund. Wilson was awarded the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and was inducted into the Sports Halls of Fame at the Harlem (N.Y.) YMCA and West Virginia State College.
After his basketball career, he became a teacher in North Carolina. In 1955, he accepted his first YMCA position as the youth director in the Milwaukee association. While there, he developed the first Hi-Y and Tri-Hi-Y training for YMCAs, as well as innovative outreach programs. He also served YMCAs in Dayton (Ohio) and Detroit (Mich.). Wilson became the chief executive officer of the YMWCA of Newark (N.J.) in 1970, the first African-American to lead a metropolitan YMCA.
Under his leadership, the Y gained solid financial footing while expanding its inner-city child care center and youth programs. In 1978, he joined the national staff as regional associate executive for the Northeast region, and later became the Management Resource Center (MRC) director for the YMCA of Greater New York. In 1989, he was appointed executive vice president of the YMCA Retirement Fund. Wilson was awarded the Brotherhood Award from the National Conference of Christians and Jews, and was inducted into the Sports Halls of Fame at the Harlem (N.Y.) YMCA and West Virginia State College.
Processed;
Publisher
Springfield College
Date
1980-1990?
2010-07-14
Rights
Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.
Relation
RG 103 YMCA Hall of Fame Papers
http://www.spfldcol.edu/homepage/library.nsf/78D4B8F1DEB9FDC38525741100498AC9/F75FFB60247BF41A85257639005F614A?OpenDocument
103
02
10
12
001
YMCA-HOF
Format
Image/jpg;
Image/tiff;
Type
Image
Files
Collection
Citation
“Robert W. Wilson,” Digital Commonwealth , accessed May 21, 2013, http://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/items/show/12264.
Comments