Neal-Tarpley Parchman Funeral Home Reporting
news@clarksvillenow.com
Dr. John Bruce Wilson, 87, of Clarksville, TN, passed from this life September 9, 2014.
Visitation will be held at Neal-Tarpley Parchman Funeral Home in Clarksville, TN from 10 a.m. until noon on September 13th followed by the service. Burial will be at 1 p.m. on September 14th, 2014 at Elmwood Cemetery in Blytheville, AR with Cobb Funeral Home presiding.
Bruce Wilson was born July 2nd, 1927 in Berryville, AR to the late Bennett Bascom (B.B.) and Willie (Tinin) Wilson. Preceded in death by a sister, Mary Emily Wilson and a brother, Bennett Bascom (Dick) Wilson, Jr., Bruce is survived by his five children, Deborah L. French (Al) of North Little Rock, AR, Meredith Emily Wilson Lounge (Bob) of Oklahoma City, OK, Valerie D. Keating (Neal) of Cabot, AR, John Bruce Wilson, Jr. and Bennett G. Scott Wilson of Clarksville, TN. He is survived by four grandchildren, Lisa Gannon (Ed), of Green Bay, WI, Jason French (Jennifer) of North Little Rock, AR, Brad Keating of Tallahassee, FL, and Kira Godinet of Denver, CO. and three nieces, and one nephew. Bruce leaves behind special friends Dr. Maxwell King, Marian Yarbrough, and Dr. Charles Smith.
In 1945 Bruce served in the Merchant Marines. He attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, AR receiving his B.A. of Science degree in 1950. While attending A.S.U., Dr. Wilson joined the Sigma Pi Fraternity and married coed Laverne (Nutt) Wilson, mother of his five children. He received his Masters in 1953 and his Doctorate in Higher Education Administration in 1955, both at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL. Dr. Wilson completed post doctoral work at Stanford University, Standford, CA in 1963.
Dr. Wilson taught in the Public Schools in Arkansas before becoming the founding Dean at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City, FL. In 1957. Dr. Wilson was the Founding President of Brevard Community College (now Eastern Florida State College) in Cocoa, FL, from 1959 to 1965. At 33, Dr. Wilson was the youngest Community College President appointed in Florida. Brevard Community College/Eastern Florida State College recognized Dr. Wilson by naming their Gymnasium the J. Bruce Wilson facility and honored him during their 50th year anniversary in 2010 as their founding President.
He was Founding President of Florida Community College (now Florida State College)in Jacksonville, FL, from 1965 to 1970. They enrolled over 10,000 students while opening four campuses.
After leaving Florida, Dr. Wilson was employed as full graduate professor to develop their first doctoral program, in conjunction with the University of Kentucky, at Western Kentucky University, at Bowling Green, KY.
He became President of Southeast Community College at Cumberland, KY , serving from 1972 to 1975.
Dr. Wilson moved to Clarksville, TN where he taught at the University of Tennessee at Nashville developing the Continuing Education program. He was additionally the Coordinator and developed a special MOS Library, Instructional program and Testing program at Fort Campbell, KY. serving from 1975 to 1985. Dr. Wilson later transitioned into the real estate investment market in Clarksville, TN.
Dr. Wilson was very active in numerous service organizations. While in Florida, he served as first Chairman of the seven astronaut scholarship committee, Executive Board of Boy Scouts of America, and President of the Brevard County YMCA. While in Kentucky and Tennessee, he served as President of the Tri-City Chamber of Commerce, and Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Appalachian Regional hospital at Harlan, KY. Dr Wilson served as a lifelong Rotarian.
Dr. Wilson was additionally recognized as outstanding graduate of University of Florida. Governor, Farris Bryant, recognized Dr. Wilson as one of five Outstanding Young Men in the state of Florida. The Orange county Chamber of Commerce in Jacksonville Beach FL recognized Dr. Wilson with their highest honor for his professional service to youth. He additionally receive the Outstanding Community Service award by The Sertoma club in Jacksonville, FL. He was recognized by the statewide Student Government association over Florida Junior colleges for pioneering community college education in Florida.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donations to your favorite charity or the “Dr. J. Bruce Wilson scholarship” fund to benefit at risk students attending Eastern Florida State College.
Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040.
Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com.