James Norris Wilson

September 12, 1929 - December 2, 2022
James Norris Wilson was born in Indiana on September 12, 1929. Shortly thereafter, his parents, Victor and Alice, moved to Alma, Michigan. Jim and his older sister, Barbara Jean, spent their childhood in Alma, where Jim enjoyed Boy Scouts and pheasant hunting. He became an Eagle Scout.
He proceeded on to Michigan State, where he affiliated with ATO fraternity. It was the time of the Korean War, so upon graduation, he attended officer's training school, where he became a first lieutenant in the infantry. He was assigned to the occupation army in Germany for two years. Jim always praised his army experience.
Upon his return to the States, he enrolled in an executive training program offered by the Cadillac division of General Motors; thus beginning his lifetime association with Cadillac. One of his early assignments was an enviable one for the young man, selecting and training the models for the Motorama! These auto shows traveled across the country, introducing the next year auto model and concept cars.
In 1956, while vacationing in his family home in Frankfort, Michigan, he admired a young girl at the Crystal Dawns Country Club. Their family friends arranged them to meet the next day. That was the beginning of a lifetime relationship between Barbara Baker and Jim Wilson. They married the next year.
Within a year, General Motors transferred the newlyweds to San Francisco, where Jim was to be the assistant Branch Manager of the Cadillac retail store. It was here that Jim realized the potential of the retail side of the automobile business! Jim and Barbara loved their five years in Marin County, where their first daughter, Janice, was born. Jim remarked that he had the most beautiful commute in the world, across the Golden Gate Bridge.
In 1963, GM offered Jim the opportunity to manage the Los Angeles Cadillac Branch. He happily accepted, and the family settled into their new home in Arcadia, California. Soon after, their second daughter, Susan, was born. Three years later, Martin Pollard offered Jim a partnership at Casa de Cadillac in Sherman Oaks, Ca. The family moved and Jim enjoyed his five-minute commute to the dealership. Jim appreciated his clientele; selling cars to his neighbors, the Hollywood crowd, and professional athletes. All the while grounded in his Midwestern values, the importance of a handshake, looking someone in the eye and being true to his word.
Soon, his fellow dealers elected him to be the president of the Southern California Cadillac Dealers Association. This group fostered cooperation and friendship among the Los Angeles area Cadillac dealers. Jim initiated an annual trip to the Moira Kea beach hotel, which continues to be appreciated to this day. He was proud to be elected chairman of the National Cadillac Dealer council.
While living in Sherman Oaks, a puppy was left in the Wilson front yard. It was a Welsh corgi mix. From that day on, there has always been a corgi in their home. Jim was an animal lover.
With some free time, Jim rediscovered golf. He joined Lakeside golf club in North Hollywood, where he played team golf and introduced Barbara to the game. Many years later they joined The Los Angeles Country Club with its two fine courses. He continued to play team golf at LACC. He joined "The Sportsmen", a club within LACC resulting in lifelong friendships. He and Barbara traveled with these friends here and abroad. Jim began shooting his age at 72. Multiple holes-in-one brought joy. Jim played in many pro-am tournaments, the highlights being four rounds with Arnold Palmer their final paring, in the 1988 ProAm, at North Ranch Country Club they won the tournament; Arnie shot 77 and Jim 79!
Jim retired in 2008 and the business transitioned to his son-in-law, Howard Drake (Susan's husband). Barbara and Jim moved to Santa Barbara. They developed new friends at the Valley Club of Montecito and Birnam Wood Golf Club. Having had 93 years of living the good life, Jim passes away in his bedroom as he wished, with Barbara and his devoted caregivers by his side.
In many of the condolence cards, friend refer to Jim as "The Gentle Giant"… he was 6'5", or "The Ultimate Gentleman", which he was.
Survived by his wife of 65 years, Barbara, daughters; Janice and her partner Jeffrey Ross, Susan, and husband Howard Drake, granddaughters, Hannah and husband Brandon Watts, Madeline and her husband Matt Riley, and great-grandson, Wyatt Wilson Watts!