Wilson graduated from Atwood High School in 1914 and began a career in education the following school year by teaching in a country school for two years. He enrolled at the University of Illinois in 1916 and studied agriculture.
Wison graduated from Illinois in 1920 but remained at the university as an assistant to the athletic director, George Huff. He utilized his experiences at Illinois to take the role of athletic director and head track coach at Drake from 1922 to 1925. All of these experiences catapulted Wison into the athletic director position at Northwestern University where he remained until 1945. In 1945, Wison would be named commissioner of the Big Ten Conference, remaining in that position until 1961. Wilson also served as a member of the President's Council on Youth Fitness under President Eisenhower and Kennedy.
Personal information
Wilson married Dorothy Estelle Shade in 1924. His nickname, "Tug" was passed down from his father, Charles Wesley "Tug" Wilson.