He was born in Washington Boro, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the oldest child of William B. Wilson and Henrietta A. Charles.

[1] Wilson was a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, representing the United States at the Games of the VIII Olympiad held in Paris, France from 4 May through 27 July 1924.

[2] The boat included Wilson (stroke), Leon Butler (bow seat), and Edward Jennings (cox).

[4] At the Olympic Games, the boat came in third, earning a bronze medal[5] on 17 July 1924 at the Argenteuil Basin on the Seine.

He married Virginia E. Harris née Gessing (25 October 1902 – 21 March 1986) in Manhattan, New York City, NY on 27 June 1931.