Mark D. Wilson
SP5 US Army 70-72
SGT IANG 83-87
Mark D. Wilson was born on October 22, 1946, in Iowa City, IA. He is a life-long resident of this community, graduating from Iowa City High in 1964, and receiving his BA degree at The University of Iowa in 1969 with a major in Elementary Education. He began his teaching career that fall at Johnson Elementary School in Cedar Rapids, IA. During his first year of teaching, Wilson was drafted into the US Army during the Vietnam War.
Wilson completed Advanced Individual Training with Honors as a Medical Corpsman, completed Advanced Individual Training in Operating Room Procedures, and served in a MUST unit (Mobile Unit Surgical Transport) in Germany with the 7th Evacuation Hospital. He received nine letters of commendation and/or appreciation for exceptional duty performance and professionalism and National Defense Service and Good Conduct medals for his active duty service.
After being honorably discharged in 1972, he resumed his teaching career as a classroom teacher in the Iowa City Community School District where he taught for 30 years. He received his MA in Developmental Reading (K-12 Reading Specialist) and Elementary Curriculum at The University of Iowa and for 22 years taught disadvantaged students who were at-risk of failure in reading. In 1981, he was chosen by the Iowa City Jaycees as Johnson County’s “Outstanding Young Educator of the Year” based on achievement, community service, and leadership. In 2002, Wilson was awarded Johnson County’s Old Capitol Reading Council’s “Reading Teacher of the Year” for making significant contributions to the teaching of reading.
In 1983, at the age of 36, Wilson enlisted in the Iowa Army National Guard in Iowa City and served four years as a member of Headquarters, 109th Medical Battalion as Clerk Typist, Personal Administrative Specialist, and Assistant Operations Sergeant. He also completed coursework as a Company Clerk, graduated from Basic Non-Commissioned Officer School at the Military Academy in Camp Dodge, IA, and received a Department of Army Certificate of Training for a 56 hour NBC (Nuclear, Biological and Chemical) School. He was awarded the Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Medal, six Certificates of Achievement for Physical Readiness, and the Iowa Army National Guard Commendation Medal for meritorious service from Brigadier General Warren G. Lawson.
Mark Wilson is married and has two children and four grandchildren. In his retirement, Wilson spends his leisure time with his family and friends. He also enjoys traveling, reading, serving on boards and committees within his church and high school communities, volunteering as a Hawkeye Ambassador at The University of Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame and Museum, and helping with research studies at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He continues to support The University of Iowa and various charities, attends Hawkeye events, and maintains his Hawk Room filled with personal memorabilia from Hawkeye events he has attended for over 60 years. He wrote a memorable quotes book and stories about Nile Kinnick, The University of Iowa’s only Heisman Award winner. In 2018, the book was chosen as top three finalist for book of the year. He is also author of the book, Let’s R.A.P. (Read Along with Partners), an illustrated resource book consisting of verbal prompts for teachers, parents, reading tutors, and other reading partners designed to assist beginning readers to become more independent in their reading skills.
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