University of Dayton Athletics

JAMES "PEPPER" WILSON - Administrator 1949-1957

When the University of Dayton men's basketball team burst upon the national scene in the 1950's, the man who ensured the University would capitalize on its remarkable success was its very first Sports Information Director, James "Pepper:" Wilson.

Wilson was ahead of his time in the business of sport publicity, and he cultivated relationships in the national media and promoted UD's basketball team like very few teams anywhere, let alone from the Midwest.

With Tom Blackburn's teams making impressive runs to the NIT finals, Wilson's creativity, imagination, deep understanding of public relations and incredible work ethic elevated the University of Dayton's national profile to unprecedented levels.

While at UD, Wilson's efforts in football media relations were recognized by the Football Writers Association. After he left the University in 1958 to return to his hometown of Cincinnati and take a position in the front office of the NBA's Cincinnati Royals, Wilson was inducted into the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Hall of Fame.

Wilson served as the Flyers' SID from 1949 to 1957, when he joined the Royals. After a 12-year stint as the Royals General Manager, he returned to public relations as the PR Director for the Cincinnati Zoo. He passed away in 1988.