THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 26, 1994 TAG: 9412260048
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE STONE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 48 lines
William Mack Wilson, 64, vice president for academic affairs and dean of Virginia Wesleyan College, died Sunday in a traffic accident shortly after leaving a Christmas church service.
The accident happened about 12:15 p.m. on South Lynnhaven Road and Lynnhaven Parkway, just off an exit from the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway, said police spokesman Lou Thurston.
Wilson, of the 800 block of Queen Elizabeth Drive, had just left church with his wife, Martha Wilson, 58, and his mother-in-law, Martha Barnes, 83.
Wilson exited the expressway, stopped to pay the toll and proceeded onto Lynnhaven Parkway. ``He did not stop for the traffic signal at the bottom of the exit ramp,'' Thurston said.
His car was struck on the driver's side by another car driven by Gregory L. Hooks, 28, of the 600 block of Biltmore Drive.
Wilson was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife and mother-in-law were taken to Virginia Beach General Hospital, where they were listed in serious condition. Hooks also was taken to the hospital, but was treated and released.
No charges are being filed in the accident, Thurston said.
Wilson came to Wesleyan in 1971 from Wofford College in South Carolina, where he had been a professor of religion.
``One of his unusual gifts was his ability to establish relationships with people,'' said Lambuth M. Clarke, president emeritus of the college. ``He was a superb human being.'' ``He and I worked together as brothers at the college for 21 years.''
Wesleyan President William T. Greer Jr. said he'd just written Wilson a letter last week saying: ``You know, Bill, you wrote the book on how to be an academic dean.''
``From the day he arrived'' at Wesleyan, ``he brought stability, leadership,'' said Greer. ``I'm just devastated. We all are. He was not just a colleague, he was a friend.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Bill Wilson
KEYWORDS: ACCIDENT TRAFFIC FATALITY by CNB