Gene Winson
Blacksburg Rotary Club

Gene Wilson joined our Club in 1984 and served as President in 1991-1992.

Gene was born and grew up in Newport, Tennessee.  He was educated at Vanderbilt University, Austin Peay State University (BS degree), and Shippensburg University (MS) in Pennsylvania.  He taught high school mathematics for two years in northwest Tennessee until called into the US Army (1952) as a private during the Korean War.  After graduation from Officer Candidate School, Fort Bliss, Texas, he began a 30-year career as an Artillery Officer with assignments in Korea, Alaska, The Pentagon, Vietnam, Germany, and other US locations.  In his final two years in the Army he served on the Faculty of the United States War College teaching leadership, management, and ethics. 

Following Army retirement, Gene was selected as Deputy Commandant of Cadets at Virginia Tech.  He served in that position for 10 years, being awarded the President’s Award for Excellence in 1992.  He has been active in community and church activities in the Blacksburg Community.  He and wife Mary are weekly volunteers at The Roanoke Rescue Mission, where they were recognized as Food Service Volunteers of the Year in 2005.

Gene and Mary celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary in August 2010.  They have three children and six grandchildren.  Son Bruce is a Baptist minister in Danville where he is the current President of the Riverview Rotary Club.   Both of Bruce and Cathy’s children, Evan and Hannah, are Hokies (Evan 2009 and Hannah 2011).  Son Dennis and wife Susan reside in Edmond, OK, where he is a Chief Financial Officer.  They have two children.  Daughter Mary Ann Baldwin is wife of a retired Air Force Colonel, who is now on the Staff at the University of North Carolina Medical Center.  They have two children.

The Wilsons cherish their 27 years in Blacksburg which is 5 times longer than any other residence during their marriage. 

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