WILSON, JAMES "JIM" AMOS (1931 ~ 1988). The following is an obituary for Jim Wilson, former executive director of the Texas Mass Transportation Commission. Sources are compiled at the end of the obituary.
James Amos Wilson was born in Lubbock, Texas on June 12, 1931 to Vaughn E. Wilson and Mary Glass Wilson. A 1950 graduate of Lubbock High School, he served as a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps (1st Marine Division) from 1951 to 1954 where he completed a tour of duty in South Korea. He received a B.A. in Public Administration from Texas Tech University on 1957. During his senior year at Tech (1956-1957) he worked as an administrative aide with the City of Lubock, Texas.
Wilson moved to Austin in 1958 where, at the age of 29, he was named assistant city manager of Austin, Texas. While working for the City of Austin, Wilson received an M.A. in Public Administration in 1960 from the University of Texas. Wilson was named First Assistant to City Manager Bill Williams in 1960. After Williams' resignation in 1967, Wilson served three months as Acting City Manager. In August of 1967 Wilson joined the Texas Research League. Later he served as Executive Director of the Texas Mass Transportation Commission and was Executive Administrator with the Council for South Texas Economic Progress. Before joining the City of Ft. Worth in 1977 as Industrial Development Coordinator, he was a deputy state comptroller under Bob Bullock.
Wilson was a lobbyist for the City of Ft. Worth until his death on August 5, 1988. He was well known and liked by many in both city and state government. Wilson was a member of St. David's Episcopal Church.
His survivors include his wife, Barbara Cater Wilson; five daughters, Robin Roberts, Rollyn Roberts, Amy Wilson, Rebecca Pearce, and Kim Wilson; one brother, Vaughn Wilson; one sister, Louise Ware; and five grandchildren. James Amos Wilson was interred at the Texas State Cemetery in the early 1990's.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Smith, George "James Wilson, lobbyist for Fort Worth's needs", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Saturday, August 6, 1988; "Memorial service set for former Austin official", Austin American Statesman, August 6, 1988; Castlebury, Glen "Council Taps Jim Wilson As Acting City Manager", Austin American Statesman, date unknown; Capitol Staff, "Wilson to Direct TMTC", date unknown; "FW gains former Austin official, Industrial planner named", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Tuesday, April 12, 1977; "Jim Wilson Is Named to Austin Post", paper and date unknown; Castlebury, Glen "Jim Wilson Joins Research League", Austin American Statesman, Thursday, August 31, 1967; "New Administrative Assistant", paper and date unknown; Bell, Joe "New lobbyist can't carry extra bags", Fort Worth Star-Telegram, date unknown.
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