Birth Death 1905-86

Term 1964-65 [pro tem]

A Cincinnati native, Charles Ray Wilson was born in 1905, graduated from Miami in 1926, earned a master's degree at the University of Cincinnati in 1929, and received his doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1934. His teaching activity was varied and broad, including Mariemont in the Cincinnati public schools and the University of Chicago laboratory school. His college career started with two years teaching history at the University of Cincinnati, followed by one year at Miami in 1934, and continuing at Colgate in 1935. He married Elizabeth C. Cook on August 24, 1934, and they susequently had two sons: James and Douglas. With interruptions to teach at the U.S. Army university at Biarritz, France, and at Army installations in Germany, he remained at Colgate until 1961. His experiences there prepared him well for serving as Miami's chief academic officer. He was director of the annual foreign policy conference; chair of the history department; director of the division of social sciences; author of two books in American history; director of the V-12 history program in World War II; faculty representative to the committeeon the post-war college, the educational policy committee, the development council, the athletic governing board, and the concert lecture series; faculty advisor to his own fraternity, Phi Delta Theta; president of the Colgate chapter of the American Association of University Professors, candidate for Congress; and a delegate to the Democratic National Committee. He also was a member of the American and Southern Historical Associations, the Organization of American Historians, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Delta Chi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, Pi Delta Epsilon, and Phi Sigma. His academic specialties at Colgate and Miami were Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War and American foreign policy. In recognition of his services as the permanent president of the class of 1926, his contributions as chairman of the alumni committee for Miami's _949 long-range program study, and his significant academic career, Ray was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Miami in 1950. His continuing interest in alumni affairs was further recognized after his return to Miami by the A.K. Morris Award in 1964. An honorary degreee from Bowling Greeen State University in 1967 further reecognized his accomplishments as a leader in higher education. In 1961, President John D. Millett brought Wilson back to Miami as Provost. Soon thereafter, he played a significant role, indicative of his planning and foresight, in establishing an early systems analysis program at Miami in cooperation with I.B.M. The School of Applied Science, with its technically-oriented programs, was nurtured by Wilson. He was equally, and singularly, responsible for the establishment of a major in international studies, which today has one of the heaviest concentrations of enrolled students. His professional experiences, as well as his personal interests and beliefs, contributed to the establishment of Miami's European Center in Luxembourg. Relationships with universities in Japan and Brazil were established at his insistence. Dr.Wilson served as Acting President of Miami University when Dr. Millett became the first chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents in 1964. With the arrival of Dr. Phillip R. Shriver in 1965, Dr. Wilson added Vice President for Academic Affairs to his title. He served in this role until his retirement in 1970. He died in 1986. [From "A Memorial to Charles Ray Wilson," by Robert Etheridge, Karl Limper, Kenneth McDiffett, Bill Moeckel, Raymond Moloney, and Charles Teckman].

A Cincinnati native, Charles Ray Wilson was born in 1905, graduated from Miami in 1926, earned a master's degree at the University of Cincinnati in 1929, and received his doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1934. His career in academia started with a history teaching position at the University of Cincinnati from 1932 to 1933, followed by one year at Miami University, and a move to Colgate University in 1935. He married Elizabeth C. Cook on August 24, 1934, Wilson remained at Colgate until 1961, with interruptions to teach at the U.S. Army University at Biarritz, France, and at Army installations in Germany. In 1961, President John Millett brought Wilson back to Miami a as Provost.  Wilson served as Acting President of Miami University when Millett became the first chancellor of the Ohio Board of Regents in 1964. With the selection of  Phillip Shriver as Miami President in 1965, Provost Wilson added Vice President for Academic Affairs to his title. He played a significant role in establishing an early systems analysis program at Miami in cooperation with I.B.M. The School of Applied Science, with its technically oriented programs, was nurtured by Wilson. He was also responsible for the establishment of a major in international studies. Wilson served as Vice President and Provost until his retirement in 1970. He died in 1986.