2013: “Teddy” Wilson, 70, From Family of Athletes

Ted Wilson passed away in Maui, Hawaii, last month.

To hundreds of San Diegans who knew him, Teddy was your basic,  friendly, next-door neighbor who would laugh at your jokes, no matter how corny, and be Johnny-on-the-Spot in times of need.

Wilson, 70,  was an outstanding athlete who came from a family of athletes.

Teddy was a two-year lettermen as a fullback and linebacker in football at Hoover  in 1958 and 1959, played two seasons at San Diego City College, and was a linebacker at New Mexico University for two years.

He also had a four-year tour in the Marine Corps and played baseball and football for the San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot Devildogs and while stationed on the island of  Okinawa.

Teddy’s younger brother, Gary, was a standout running back on Hoover’s 1963 Eastern League champions.  Gary rushed for than 270 yards in only one half of a game for San Diego State against Mexico Poly in 1966.

The brothers’ father, Ted, Sr., guided thousand of athletes as a recreation director at playgrounds throughout San Diego, El Cajon, and Coronado for more than 40 years.

The senior Wilson played football at San Diego State and starred in the same backfield with future all-America Irvine (Cotton) Warburton at San Diego High.

Teddy’s wife, Ann, had a simple request on behalf of his family:

“Please take someone you love to dinner in Ted’s memory.”