[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 23982]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     IN MEMORY OF DR. MILTON WILSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HINOJOSA. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor and pay tribute to a 
great American, my good friend, the late Dr. Milton Wilson from 
Houston, Texas. Dr. Wilson passed away on September 2, 2003. I hope my 
colleagues will join me in extending deepest sympathies to his family 
as they mourn this great loss. Although Dr. Wilson will be sorely 
missed, his family can take comfort in remembering his numerous 
accomplishments and the incredible legacy he left behind.
  Dr. Milton Wilson was born July 20, 1915, in Paducah, Kentucky. His 
father was a Pullman car porter, and both his mother and grandmother 
were public school teachers. His parents instilled in him a strong work 
ethic and a love for education that stayed with him throughout his 
life.
  After graduating from Lincoln High School in Paducah, Kentucky, 
Milton Wilson went on to earn a bachelor's degree from West Virginia 
State College and later earned a master's degree, as well as a 
doctorate degree in business administration from Indiana University at 
Bloomington. In later years, he returned to teach at Indiana University 
as a professor of accounting. His commitment to his students and his 
dedication to teaching earned him Indiana University's Distinguished 
Alumni Award.
  Dr. Wilson continued his very distinguished career as head of the 
Department of Accounting at Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia, 
through 1944. At the request of President Dent of Dillard University, 
Dr. Wilson moved to New Orleans to head the university's business 
department until 1949.

                              {time}  1730

  Shortly thereafter, Dr. Wilson moved to my home State of Texas, and 
in 1952 became the first African American Certified Public Accountant 
in Texas. The President of Texas Southern University invited him to 
establish a Department of Business Administration, which later became 
the School of Business Administration, with Dr. Wilson serving as its 
first dean. Under Dean Wilson's leadership, TSU became the first school 
of business in Houston to gain accreditation by the American Assembly 
of College Schools of Business.
  Because of trailblazing work, Dr. Wilson became nationally known as 
the dean of predominantly black business schools in this country. It 
was while he headed the TSU School of Business Administration that I 
first came to know Dr. Milton Wilson, his first wife Zelda, and his 
family. Mrs. Wilson, who passed away in 2001, was a beautiful, gracious 
and hospitable lady who always made me feel welcome in her home. I will 
always remember listening to her own stories and experiences, both 
challenging and rewarding.
  His son, Milton Wilson, Jr., followed in his father's footsteps and 
has been honored many times in the Federal Government's Senior 
Executive Service, serving for the Small Business Administration. I am 
proud to recognize him as one of my best friends during the last 25 
years.
  Not content to rest on his laurels at TSU, Dr. Wilson also served as 
a visiting professor at both Harvard and the University of Chicago. He 
shared his expertise as a valued consultant for a number of Federal 
agencies. As adviser to the Ford Foundation, in conjunction with 
Indiana University, he led a project that resulted in the successful 
establishment of the Institute of Business Administration in Dacca, 
Pakistan.
  Dr. Wilson remained at TSU until 1970, when President Cheek of Howard 
University called him and offered him a new opportunity. President 
Cheek requested that he establish the Howard University School of 
Business and Public Administration. Dr. Wilson accepted this challenge. 
Through his efforts, Howard University became the first school in the 
Washington area to gain AACSB accreditation, first for its bachelor 
degree program and, ultimately for its accounting program.
  Madam Speaker, Dr. Wilson believed anything was possible. He never 
gave up and fought to make every institution of higher learning at 
which he served the best it could be. His students received the 
educational tools they needed to become prominent and successful 
business people, professionals and elected officials.
  Throughout his life, Dr. Wilson received countless honors, awards and 
recognitions, including the Henry B. Gonzalez Latino Leadership Award, 
named in honor of our colleague, the late Congressman Henry B. 
Gonzalez. This citation for meritorious service is presented to those 
who have worked selflessly, often without recognition, and made 
contributions both in the Hispanic community and the broader society as 
well.
  Dr. Wilson was chosen to receive this award because he embodied a 
giving, sharing spirit and made a lasting contribution to our nation 
through education. Upon retiring from TSU in 1990, Dr. Wilson was 
honored by the Texas House of Representatives for his distinguished 
serviced in his community, business, government and academia.
  Dr. Wilson is survived by his second wife, Imelda Pradia Wilson and 
three children: Rhea Ann Fairley, Zelda Jefferson Young, and Milton 
Wilson, Jr.; his sister, Jessie W. Wilson; and five grand-children: 
Gladys Zelda Fairley, Paul Milton Fairley, Milton Wilson III, Marcus 
James Wilson, and Wendell Mosley.
  Dr. Milton Wilson was a true American pioneer. His efforts and his 
accomplishments will long be remembered.
  I ask all Members of Congress to join me in commending the late Dr. 
Milton Wilson for his exceptional career and contributions to our 
Nation and in extending our sincere condolences to his family and 
friends.

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