Alum Chuck Wilson continues to bring a positive outlook to all those around him
Perhaps the oldest living USC Gould alumnus, Chuck Wilson (JD 1950) began practicing law when he was admitted to the California bar in January 1951, with a state bar number of 22144 — and didn’t stop until he reached 99 years old. Now, as he prepares to turn 101, Wilson still goes into work every day at his family business Ernest Packaging, where he serves as Chairman and CEO. Wilson says it was his law degree that helped him run a successful business.
“You have to understand people in order to build a business — it’s great to have a background as an attorney,” said Wilson. “My law degree helped me be a better business man.”
His philosophy of business and having a lot of respect for those that work for you, taking care of others and helping them become better goes back to his childhood. “I have trained other employees that have gone on and opened their own businesses,” Wilson said.
Wilson says growing up during the Great Depression, his father dying when he was 5 years old, and his widowed mother left alone to take care of him and his older brother left an impact on him. Even though they struggled like so many others during the Great Depression, his mom would spare a dime to someone who needed it even more than they did.
“I am a very positive person who loves people,” Wilson said. “I appreciate other people’s problems to put mine into perspective,” noting that there’s always someone who facing bigger challenges than his own.
When the call came to enter the World War II draft, Wilson joined the Army, unit 70, as a lead scout. Wilson recalls a harrowing event that happened in January 1945 in Germany. He saved several men from dying as they were met with artillery fire, putting his own life in danger.
“I was wearing a winter coat that had two buttons on the back where the bullet hit instead of hitting me,” Wilson said. “I feel really lucky that the button was there.”
Wilson received a purple heart and bronze star for his heroic actions.
After the war, he came to Los Angeles where his brother picked him up at Union Station and announced they were in business. His brother encouraged Wilson to go to school even though they had a new company to run.
“I always wanted to be a lawyer,” said Wilson. “I was a good debater, but also interested in business.”
For three years, Wilson attended classes at USC Law from 7 to 10 a.m. every day, then worked with his brother at Ernest Packaging the rest of the day. After earning his JD in 1950, he opened a practice with Andy Smith, a major in the Army during the war and a student with Wilson in law school. Their law practice lasted about 20 years, but Wilson always had a hand in the family business.
Wilson is a role model for those that he works with at Ernest Packaging, which currently has 600 employees and several locations. “I’m very proud of my employees and their family’s successes,” Wilson said. “I know my employees very well and we celebrate life’s successes together.”
Still going into the office at 101 may seem daunting for some, but for Wilson it’s what keeps him going. You may see him dancing in the lobby and making people laugh, but it’s his positive attitude that’s key.
“My secret to living a long life is being lucky,” said Wilson. Besides going to work, Wilson loves spending time with his wife, two kids and four grandchildren.
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