"Without Charles & Norma Wilson, the YMCA wouldn't be here in Red Oak.."
by Kristi Potts on 04/18/13
April 15, 2013
From: Nick Zimmer
With the passing of Charles Wilson, the community of Red Oak lost today a true leader that only wanted the best for the community in which he and his family lived and worked in. I met Charles along with his wife Norma back in the spring of 1995 and he truly knew the importance of philanthropy and giving back to one’s community.
In 1997 when the Montgomery County Family YMCA announced our goal to raise over $6 million dollars for construction of a state of the art YMCA, the Wilson’s wanted to have people involved with the entire process such as volunteers on various committees to help raise funding, in designing the facility and to help arrive at equipment for YMCA use. The entire process was to have people be involved, volunteer for a project and make their community a better place to live and work as YMCA volunteers. Charles and Norma agreed with set goals to complete final funding needs for the three phases of the YMCA; the wellness center, track and gym, lobby, multi-purpose room and babysitting room as phase one. Phase two included the aquatics center while phase three included the indoor tennis center. By having hundreds of volunteers throughout the community, county and area come together to work for a common goal; the YMCA’s capital construction project. Charles and Norma were creating new emerging leaders in the community, county and area so that they could not just build a YMCA but to allow people to grow and strengthen one’s community and create new leaders in many other organizations like the YMCA, civic organizations and leadership with one’s community.
I would just ask people to take a moment to reflect when driving around Red Oak each day and think about some of the city parks in our community, Broadway Street beautification, Wilson Performing Art Center, the History Center and economical industrial needs to create job opportunities for many people in our community. One being the headquarters of Wilson Concrete Company that provides many great jobs, being a part of the development of Oakview Construction , school technology center, their church, the YMCA, our county Hospital and most recently the new and beautiful Red Coach Inn & Restaurant. Charles and Norma really did not take the Inn over for their personal needs but to re invest thousands of dollars back into the facility to have a quality hotel service, community gathering location for special events, weddings, meetings for our community.
As one can see Charles and his wife Norma
simply love and care for Red Oak and were able to give their time and a lot of
financial support back to Red Oak but more importantly to give residents in our
community countless of opportunities from social, recreational, the arts,
education, faith, medical field and creation of jobs for many to simply make
Red Oak the best it can be.
Charles was also very close to the Boy Scouts and the scouting program from the
local level to national councils that he served on again to create leadership
for young boy’s that would turn into leaders in our community or the community
that they moved on to live in. Thus one can see the common theme and thread
with leadership, giving back to one’s community, creating new leaders and community
involvement all makes for a community to thrive in. Red Oak is doing this each
and everyday through the generosity of Charles and Norma Wilson.
I am personally and professionally gratefully for what Charles Wilson has done and their family continues to do for Red Oak.
My best, Nick
Nick Zimmer
Executive Director
Montgomery County Family YMCA
