Johnny Wilson - 1997 Athlete

The name of "Jumpin' Johnny" Wilson became synonymous with Anderson University in early post-World War II days when he became the Raven basketball sensation who eventually enjoyed both national and international acclaim in that sport.

Wilson earned 11 letters in four AU sports in just three seasons before returning to campus later as an assistant coach after a distinguished career in professional sports and coaching.

After being named Indiana's Mr. Basketball in high school, he played three years of Raven basketball, each season being selected All-Conference and team MVP. He was also twice named an All-American, including finishing third in the nation in scoring in 1949.

He still holds AU records for career scoring average (23.3), season scoring average (25.4), field goal attempts in a game (56), and ranks eighth on the career scoring list with 1,540 points. Wilson was also named All-Conference and team MVP in both baseball and track.

Wilson continued his career in sports following his tenure at Anderson University. He played baseball with the Chicago American Giants in the Negro Leagues and basketball with the world famous Harlem Globetrotters. After his playing career, he coached basketball at Malcolm X College and Indianapolis Wood High School before returning to Anderson University and Anderson High School as an assistant coach. He also returned to school to earn a degree in Education from Anderson University.

His honors are numerous. Wilson was named as one of the Top 50 Athletes of the Century in Indiana and was named the Co-Athlete of the Century by the Herald Bulletin with fellow teammate and AU Hall of Famer Carl Erskine. He has been elected to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, won the Humanitarian Award from Malcolm X College and the Black Sports Pioneer Award from Alpha Kappa Sorority. He has received Distinguished Service and Citizen Awards from the Boy Scouts of America, the Masons, Black Expo, the City of Anderson and has been chosen a Goodwill Ambassador by the Harlem Globetrotters.

Anderson University is proud to name John E. Wilson among its first inductees to the Athletic Hall of Fame.