Obituary of Lee Wilson

Lee Hall Wilson, former Executive Secretary of the Adcraft Club of Detroit passed away February 23, 2016. He was 92 years old. Lee managed the Adcraft Club, the world's largest advertising club, for forty years prior to his retirement in 1997. He started his career in the communications industry as assistant press relations manager in the Athletics Department at The University of Michigan in 1949, under the legendary athletics director, H. O. (Fritz) Crisler. Lee was born June 24th, 1923 in Pokomoke, Maryland to Ralph Wilson and Julia Oliver Streeton Wilson. His family, including his two older brothers, Ralph and Ross, moved to River Rouge, Michigan where he attended Ann Visger Elementary School and graduated from River Rouge High School. During WWII, he served in the US Army and was stationed in Paris, working as a clerk in an army hospital set up in the Lyce Claude Bernard. Upon his return to the states, Lee married his high school sweetheart Evonne "Bunny" Hart at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in River Rouge. Lee attended the University of Michigan, working at Slaters Book Store and for the UofM athletics department under Crisler. After graduation from Michigan, he went to work for Chapman Public Relations before taking a job the Adcraft Club as the assistant to the Executive Secretary, whose job he would assume 2 years later and hold for over 40 years. During his tenure, the Adcraft Club saw its highest membership and attracted guest speakers from the worlds of business, advertising, sports, and entertainment. He was inducted into the Adcraft Hall of Fame in 2005. For his work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Detroit, Lee was given numerous citations and awards. He was also honored for his work with Northwood University, sitting on their Board of Directors and supporting their Advertising program. In 1992, he received an honorary Doctorate Degree from the University. Lee lived most of his life in Detroit, spending summers with his family at Lake Margrethe in Grayling Michigan. He enjoyed playing bridge, golf, crossword puzzles and games of every sort, inventing many. His wife, Evonne Hart Wilson passed away in March of 1997. Lee is survived by his family: son Lee J. Wilson; daughter Beth Wilson Tucker and her husband Lee R. Tucker; daughter Anne Wilson Kurtzman and her husband Andrew Kurtzman. Lee was also very proud of his grandchildren; Andrew Wilson Tucker and his wife Lynn Smith Tucker, Patrick James Tucker and his wife Brianne Frucci Tucker, Katherine Wilson Kurtzman and Jed Wilson Kurtzman. And Lee took particular delight in his great grandson, Peter Tucker. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries 150 Stimson Street, Detroit, MI 48201 313-993-4700 http://drmm.org Northwood University 4000 Whiting Drive Midland MI 48640 www.northwood.edu/LeeHWilson Please share a memory Lee by signing his guestbook.