Canadian born, American businessman, that built his company in 1926 into the most recognized sports brand names in the industry. The Wilson name is recognized around the world today as one of the premier sporting equipment manufacturers. The Footballs and Basketball are used in both pro-football and basketball as well as college.
Born in 1868, at London Middlesex County, Ontario Canada. He came to the United States, early on, and worked in the rail yards in Chicago. He worked his way up in the meat packing business to president of Morris & Company. In 1916 he was lured away to run a failing meat company in New York. He moved the company in 1916 to Chicago and changed its name to the Wilson Co. From 1916, till his death in the 1950s, he turned the Wilson Company into one of the top 50 corporations in America.
Wilson experimented using meat by-products in lieu of disposing them. He used raw hide and pig skin in many formable products. In 1922 he came up with the Ray Schalk’s catcher’s mitt. In became the standard in MLB baseball. He then teamed with Knute Rockne and to introduce the first valve, double-lined football. The ball in 1931 was adapted as the ball of the National Football League and is still used today.
In 1946, Thomas Wilson was awarded the Medal of Merit from Harry Truman for his efforts during WWII. He died in 1958 at the age of 91
Services for Thomas E. Wilson, 90, retired board chairman of the meat packing firm of Wilson & Co., who died Monday, will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Lake Forest Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Lake Forest Cemetery. Mr. Wilson moved with his family to Chicago from London, Ont., and attended Chicago public schools. He became a clerk for the Burlington Railroad. He was named president of the meat packing firm of Morris & Co in 1913. In 1916 he was named president of Sulzberger & Sons Co. He became board chairman of Wilson & Co. in 1934, and held that post until 1953. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Foss Wilson; a daughter, Mrs. Helen Williams of Kenilworth; a son, Edward Foss Wilson, assistant secretary of the health, education and welfare department in Washington; and two grandsons.
Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL) 6 Aug 1958
Born in 1868, at London Middlesex County, Ontario Canada. He came to the United States, early on, and worked in the rail yards in Chicago. He worked his way up in the meat packing business to president of Morris & Company. In 1916 he was lured away to run a failing meat company in New York. He moved the company in 1916 to Chicago and changed its name to the Wilson Co. From 1916, till his death in the 1950s, he turned the Wilson Company into one of the top 50 corporations in America.
Wilson experimented using meat by-products in lieu of disposing them. He used raw hide and pig skin in many formable products. In 1922 he came up with the Ray Schalk’s catcher’s mitt. In became the standard in MLB baseball. He then teamed with Knute Rockne and to introduce the first valve, double-lined football. The ball in 1931 was adapted as the ball of the National Football League and is still used today.
In 1946, Thomas Wilson was awarded the Medal of Merit from Harry Truman for his efforts during WWII. He died in 1958 at the age of 91
Services for Thomas E. Wilson, 90, retired board chairman of the meat packing firm of Wilson & Co., who died Monday, will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Lake Forest Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Lake Forest Cemetery. Mr. Wilson moved with his family to Chicago from London, Ont., and attended Chicago public schools. He became a clerk for the Burlington Railroad. He was named president of the meat packing firm of Morris & Co in 1913. In 1916 he was named president of Sulzberger & Sons Co. He became board chairman of Wilson & Co. in 1934, and held that post until 1953. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Foss Wilson; a daughter, Mrs. Helen Williams of Kenilworth; a son, Edward Foss Wilson, assistant secretary of the health, education and welfare department in Washington; and two grandsons.
Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL) 6 Aug 1958
Canadian born, American businessman, that built his company in 1926 into the most recognized sports brand names in the industry. The Wilson name is recognized around the world today as one of the premier sporting equipment manufacturers. The Footballs and Basketball are used in both pro-football and basketball as well as college.
Born in 1868, at London Middlesex County, Ontario Canada. He came to the United States, early on, and worked in the rail yards in Chicago. He worked his way up in the meat packing business to president of Morris & Company. In 1916 he was lured away to run a failing meat company in New York. He moved the company in 1916 to Chicago and changed its name to the Wilson Co. From 1916, till his death in the 1950s, he turned the Wilson Company into one of the top 50 corporations in America.
Wilson experimented using meat by-products in lieu of disposing them. He used raw hide and pig skin in many formable products. In 1922 he came up with the Ray Schalk’s catcher’s mitt. In became the standard in MLB baseball. He then teamed with Knute Rockne and to introduce the first valve, double-lined football. The ball in 1931 was adapted as the ball of the National Football League and is still used today.
In 1946, Thomas Wilson was awarded the Medal of Merit from Harry Truman for his efforts during WWII. He died in 1958 at the age of 91
Services for Thomas E. Wilson, 90, retired board chairman of the meat packing firm of Wilson & Co., who died Monday, will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Lake Forest Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Lake Forest Cemetery. Mr. Wilson moved with his family to Chicago from London, Ont., and attended Chicago public schools. He became a clerk for the Burlington Railroad. He was named president of the meat packing firm of Morris & Co in 1913. In 1916 he was named president of Sulzberger & Sons Co. He became board chairman of Wilson & Co. in 1934, and held that post until 1953. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Foss Wilson; a daughter, Mrs. Helen Williams of Kenilworth; a son, Edward Foss Wilson, assistant secretary of the health, education and welfare department in Washington; and two grandsons.
Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL) 6 Aug 1958
Born in 1868, at London Middlesex County, Ontario Canada. He came to the United States, early on, and worked in the rail yards in Chicago. He worked his way up in the meat packing business to president of Morris & Company. In 1916 he was lured away to run a failing meat company in New York. He moved the company in 1916 to Chicago and changed its name to the Wilson Co. From 1916, till his death in the 1950s, he turned the Wilson Company into one of the top 50 corporations in America.
Wilson experimented using meat by-products in lieu of disposing them. He used raw hide and pig skin in many formable products. In 1922 he came up with the Ray Schalk’s catcher’s mitt. In became the standard in MLB baseball. He then teamed with Knute Rockne and to introduce the first valve, double-lined football. The ball in 1931 was adapted as the ball of the National Football League and is still used today.
In 1946, Thomas Wilson was awarded the Medal of Merit from Harry Truman for his efforts during WWII. He died in 1958 at the age of 91
Services for Thomas E. Wilson, 90, retired board chairman of the meat packing firm of Wilson & Co., who died Monday, will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday in the Lake Forest Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Lake Forest Cemetery. Mr. Wilson moved with his family to Chicago from London, Ont., and attended Chicago public schools. He became a clerk for the Burlington Railroad. He was named president of the meat packing firm of Morris & Co in 1913. In 1916 he was named president of Sulzberger & Sons Co. He became board chairman of Wilson & Co. in 1934, and held that post until 1953. Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Elizabeth Foss Wilson; a daughter, Mrs. Helen Williams of Kenilworth; a son, Edward Foss Wilson, assistant secretary of the health, education and welfare department in Washington; and two grandsons.
Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL) 6 Aug 1958
