EDWARD B. WILSON II ’42

EDWARD B. WILSON II, a trustee emeritus of Wesleyan University, and a retired advertising executive who spent 30 years at J. Walter Thompson, starting in the mailroom in 1947 and retiring in 1977 as chairman of the board, died Feb. 20, 2008. He was 87. A member of Alpha Chi Rho, he served in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. During his tenure at J. Walter Thompson, the company pioneered the use of computers for media planning and buying, and used television as a global medium. His responsibilities at the company spanned the entire country, where he was responsible for all advertising operations before becoming president and chief operating officer, and ultimately, chairman of the board. He is survived by his wife, Mary Cregier Wilson, three children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.