Charles Wilson was born on December 24, 1918 in Chicago. He attended Francis Willard Elementary School, Lane Technical High School (graduating in 1938) and Herzl Junior College. As a four-sport athlete (football, basketball, baseball and softball), he played with a variety of legendary teams in all these sports. He played football for the Pepsi Cola Aces (1938 – 40), and the Golden Panthers semi-pro team (1947- 57), played baseball at Berean Baptist Church and at Herzl Junior College, and played basketball with the Chicago Bronzeville Trotters (1936 – 40), Herzl College and the Chicago Police Department Area One team from 1963 – 68. Softball is the sport, however, where Charles Wilson brought Hall of Fame performance to the playing field. He started his softball career with the Hawks, a neighborhood team, from 1936 – 38. He then moved to the Campbell Boosters (1938-40). Like so many players of his day, his career was interrupted by military service. He joined the Illinois National Guard in 1940 and served actively with the Army from 1941 to 1945, spending two and a half years overseas. He remained with the National Guard until 1970, retiring with the rank of colonel. When he returned from military service, he played with the VFW Charles Hunt Post (1948- 53), with the Goodyear All-Stars (1960 – 65) in the Budweiser’s Tavern League (1965 – 70), with the St. Anselm Catholic team (1954 – 59) and with the Chicago Police Area One team from 1961 – 65. He also served as commissioner in the Daddy-ODailey Fun League and the Tavern League. He retired from the Chicago Police Department after twenty-seven years of service. He and his first wife, Rosetta, who passed away in 1993, have three daughters, one son and six grandchildren. He and his second wife, Jeanne, live in Huntsville, Alabama.
