Jefferson-Cocke County Utility District Board of Commissioners president, Robert A. "Bobby" Wilson, died on Saturday in Jefferson City. He was 84 and a record-setting athlete in his youth.

Several months ago he was diagnosed with cancer and underwent brain surgery. He had been recuperating in a health care facility, when his condition worsened and he died.

JCCUD General Manager Tommy Bible said, "Mr. Wilson served as a member of our Board of Commissioners since 1996, having served as President for the last three years. Mr. Wilson was a true Southern gentleman, always wanting to do the right thing and always treating others the way you would want to be treated. He was a person that truly cared about the individuals around him and each time you saw him he would ask about your family and ask how you were doing. We not only lost a leader in our community, but a very respected friend."  He was born Jan. 11, 1924 in Piedmont, Alabama, and was a military veteran of World War II, having served in Europe from 1943-1946. After graduating from the University of Mississippi with degrees in health, physical education and recreation, he taught in Mississippi high schools. In 1964, he moved to Jefferson City and began a coaching career at Carson-Newman College that lasted 23 years. He had retired as a professor, was active in church and civic organizations.

By 1965, Coach Wilson led his first team to win the NAIA National Championship. While serving as a member of the US Olympic Committee, baseball was added as a sport for the Los Angeles Olympics in summer 1984.

A friendly and humble man, he was reluctant to talk about his sports accomplishments, but he set sports records as a young man that stand today. The Ole Miss Rebel's guide to sports records list Wilson in their Hall of Fame-inducted in 1988. He is in the NAIA Baseball Hall of Fame, inducted in 1986, and Carson-Newman College Athletic Hall of Fame, 1995.

Few people new about the records he set from 1946 to 1950, when he played for the University of Mississippi. When he finished high school, he had entered the Army and after discharge got accepted to Ole Miss along with three other players. Ole Miss wanted the other two players and took Bobby along as number three choice.

His national record is 10 interceptions for 70 yards set in 1949. In the SEC, the record book shows Bobby Wilson again for Career Total Pass Interceptions of 20 for 379 yards from 1946 to 1949, and Yards Interceptions Returned of 379 yards.

He is ranked among the All-Time Rebel NFL Draft Selections in 1950, when chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles, but, instead of football, he picked baseball and signed with the Cincinnati Reds playing outfield in the minor leagues.

The 165 pound six-foot tailback also set season and career records at Ole Miss, which stand today: Most Interceptions (10) in 1949; Most Yards Returned (160) in 1947; Best Average (minimum of 5 interceptions-29.8 yards) in 1948; and career records of 5 interceptions each in 1947 and 1948.

Not only did he knock the ball down or catch it better than most, but he could kick the stitching out of the ball.

His Ole Miss record of 12 punts in one game netted him 489 yards against Vanderbilt. Johnny Vaught was coaching the Rebels in the close game in which Wilson also made two interceptions.

His Ole Miss records for punting are career punts of 131 for 5,072 yards for an average of 38.7 yards; and season best of 50 punts for 2,026 yards for 40.5 yards average in 1949.

Defensive backfield coaches Johnny Cain and Junie Hovious definitely taught him well and Wilson, in turn, taught many other youth well on the field and for life.

Wilson remained interested and active in sports and was a frequent golfer and supporter of Carson-Newman sports. He was a deacon at First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, and Sunday School teacher. Wilson was a member of the Lions Club, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, and the Community College Council. In 2007, Wilson was named Jefferson Countian of the Year.

He is survived by his wife, Martha Wilson; son, Rob Wilson and daughter-in-law, Barianne Wilson; three granddaughters, Sarah, Hannah, and Leah Wilson, of Jefferson City; sister, Nellie Crabb, of Piedmont, Alabama; sister-in-law, Jeannie Bowman of Peoria, Arizona.

The Newport gas utility office will close at 3 p.m. this Thursday for the funeral. The family will receive friends at First Baptist Church of Jefferson City on Thursday, June 26, from 2-5 p.m. with the funeral immediately after this. Dr. Paul Brewer and Dr. Wade Bibb will officiate. Also participating will be Rev. Neal Bowman and Rev. Ken Schetter. Pallbearers are Derek Lance, Greg Parman, Cliff Roop. Gary Rundles, John Sanders, and Carl Torbush. Members of the W.W. Bass Sunday School Class and Morning Coffee Club will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Burial will be at Jefferson Memorial Gardens with Farrar Funeral Home of Jefferson City in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Carson-Newman Eagle Club and designated for the Bobby Wilson Baseball Scholarship Fund in care of Mike Turner, CNC Box 72009, Jefferson City TN 37760.