Born in Norfolk, Virginia, Wilson received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Richmond in 1971 and a Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law in 1974.
He was an assistant commonwealth's attorney of Roanoke, Virginia from 1974 to 1976, and was an Assistant United States Attorney of the Western District of Virginia in 1976.
[1] On March 6, 1990, Wilson was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia vacated by Judge Glen Morgan Williams.
Wilson was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 11, 1990, and received his commission on May 14, 1990.
Wilson retired from the federal bench effective July 31, 2014.