colonel Hank Wilson

Col. (Ret.) Charles Henry “Hank” Wilson, III, was born November 28, 1941, in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1959 and earned his bachelor’s degree and MSE in Chemistry from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia. After honorable discharge from Army active duty as a 1st Lieutenant, he returned to Arkansas and continued his service with the Arkansas Army National Guard. He taught high school Chemistry at Ole Main High School in North Little Rock where he met his wife, Lela Ann Fisher of North Little Rock. He served in numerous roles and command positions with the Guard, including Battalion Commander of the 212th Signal Battalion, Aviation Safety Officer, Airfield Commander, and ending his Guard career as State Aviation Officer.

When Hank retired from the Guard in 1999, he joined the Aviation Department at Henderson State University as Flight Instructor, then Director of Flight Operations, and ultimately as Aviation Program Director, retiring in December 2011.