Welcome Wade Wilson Sr. (March 17, 1928[1][2] – February 16, 2024)[3] was chairman of the Welcome Group—a privately held real estate development firm with 5 million square feet of industrial and manufacturing facilities in over 100 locations in the state of Texas.

While at the University of Houston as a student, Wilson worked for The Cougar as an advertising seller under Johnny Goyen, and later as business manager.

[6] Wilson graduated with an Associate of Arts degree from Texas Southmost College in 1946, and received its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2005.

Recognized by the President of the United States, agency heads, and the private sector, the winners are selected from all areas of the federal service.

[9] Welcome W. Wilson served in the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations as a five-state Director of Civil and Defense Mobilization, a division of the Executive Office of the President.