Wilson Air Center is pleased to announce that Mr. Robert Wilson, our owner, founder, and President, will be honored with the Doswell Award.
Mr. Robert Wilson will be honored with the Doswell Award at NBAA-BACE 2019. The NBAA John P. “Jack” Doswell Award was created to honor his dedication to volunteering and service in the aviation industry. The award now honors “high standards for lifelong individual achievement on behalf and in support of the aims, goals and objectives of business aviation.”
Mr. Robert Wilson has been giving back to the aviation industry for almost as long as he’s been involved in aviation. His aviation roots began with flying alongside his father, Kemmons Wilson, to scout potential Holiday Inn hotel locations. Once grown, aviation has remained at the heart of all his activities. He served in the Tennessee Air National Guard, established Wilson Air Center, and continues to fly regularly even now. Mr. Wilson has been inducted into both the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame and the San Diego Air and Space Museum. And with his many accomplishments, he remains busy day to day with operations at all four Wilson Air Center bases and serving on the Kemmons Wilson Inc. board.
Mr. Wilson served on the NBAA Security Council, the Board of Directors for the Holiday Inn Club Vacations, the Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association, and is involved in the Citation Jet Pilots Association. Despite his many ongoing roles, Mr. Wilson still finds time to accomplish personal projects such as establishing the Wilson Timeless Voices of Aviation Theater at the EAA Education Center as well as running all FBO operations at the Weeks’ Hangar at Oshkosh for the past two years.
He also regularly finds opportunities to donate his time and resources to organizations such as the Veterans Airlift Command, Make-a-Wish, and the Special Olympics. Mr. Wilson enjoys not only supporting special causes, but also going above and beyond for them. One of his favorite personal projects includes rescuing a pair of mountain lions and transporting them to their new habitat.
NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen stated: “NBAA is proud to recognize Bob Wilson, whose outstanding contributions to the business aviation community reflect Jack Doswell’s legacy of lifelong commitment to the industry. He has also demonstrated a tireless commitment to promoting safety and security throughout our industry, as well as devotion to giving back, through his involvement in a number of philanthropic initiatives.”
Congratulations to Mr. Wilson on his many accomplishments! Your Wilson Air Center Family is proud to be one of them!