Jim Wilson III: How UA System honored late trustee, builder of Alabama football dynasty
TUSCALOOSA, AL | November 3, 2023 – Before UA System trustee Ron Gray finished talking about late trustee Jim Wilson III, Gray had a story he wanted to share.
Gray, speaking at the UA System Board of Trustees meeting Friday in Tuscaloosa, went back to a time golfing at the beach before Wilson passed. Gray was playing in a match against Wilson at Camp Creek in Seacrest, Florida in 2021.
“When you play golf with Jim in a match, you better be ready for trash talk,” Gray said. “Jim loved to trash talk.”
Here’s the moment Gray remembered: Wilson had a long putt; about 50 feet, for a birdie that was going to win the match. Wilson was playing with a close friend of his against Gray and Chancellor Finis St. John. Gray was holding the flag stick when Wilson hit his putt. Then Wilson starts walking. Gray thought there was no way the putt would go in. Then Wilson started walking faster. By the time the ball got to the hole, Wilson was running. Then the ball went in.