May 2019
R.G. Wilson believed that God should be first in every family. He said so in the “President’s Message” column he wrote for Family Motor Coaching magazine in September 2004.
“During the past few years,” he wrote, “FMCA has seen many new chapters formed all over North America whose members have faith in God and want to develop friendships with those of like faith. As president of this great family organization, I am very pleased and have encouraged these chapters to form. . . .”
Richard Gene “R.G.” Wilson, L21025, who served as FMCA national president from 2003 to 2005 and who was instrumental in expanding Coaches For Christ chapters across the United States, died February 18, 2019. The Oklahoma native was 86.
“R.G. was a very religious man. That showed, and it showed well,” said Jeff Jefcoat, who preceded R.G. as FMCA national president. “You never heard him use a foul word. He was just a real gentleman.”
In his September 2004 column, R.G. proudly pointed not only to the growth of Coaches For Christ chapters, but he also noted that Jewish members had formed the CHAI – Chavurat Yehudim chapter, and Catholic members had started Roamin’ Catholics chapters in several areas. All provide spiritual support to FMCA members while on the road.
“He and (his wife) Jeri were very dedicated to (Coaches For Christ), to God, and to country,” said former FMCA national president Charlie Adcock, who, like R.G., rose through the FMCA ranks from the South Central Area.
The Coaches For Christ – South Central chapter began in 2005 when R.G. was FMCA president. At a chapter rally in 2012, R.G. and Jeri were presented with the Coaches For Christ – South Central Lifetime Chapter Membership award in recognition of their vision and leadership in the formation of Coaches For Christ chapters.
Mr. Adcock noted that after R.G.’s term as president ended, he and Jeri stayed active in Coaches For Christ chapters around the country.
R.G. and Jeri joined FMCA in 1974 and became heavily involved in the Rollin’ Okies chapter, as well as others, serving on committees and attending rallies. On a national level, R.G. served on FMCA’s Finance Committee and was its chairman in the 1990s and 2000s. He served as national treasurer from 1998 to 2001; as national senior vice president and Convention Committee chairman from 2001 to 2003; and as a member of the Long-Range and Development Committee from 2013 to 2014.
“He was a good steward of FMCA’s funds, one of the best I’ve ever seen,” Mr. Jefcoat said.
Indeed, R.G.’s background as a certified public accountant served FMCA well. For more than 30 years, until his retirement in 1996, he was managing partner of his own public accounting practice in Clinton, Oklahoma. He had a bachelor’s degree from Southwestern State College and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Oklahoma.
He easily made friends with people, including Mr. Jefcoat, Mr. Adcock, and Don Moore, who followed R.G. as FMCA national president in 2005.
“We hit it off,” Mr. Moore said of meeting R.G. some 20 years ago. Over the years, they traveled together, sharing meals and conversations. “There was no better guy in the world than R.G. He was solid as a rock.”
R.G. is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jeri; two daughters; four grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.