Alexander Murray Wilson

1922 - 2011

Alexander Murray Wilson
Born May 17, 1922 in Tulare, CA to Murray and Grace Wilson, Alexander M. Wilson, of Los Altos Hills, CA passed away May 10, 2011 at Stanford Medical Center in Palo Alto. Bud Wilson, as he was known to his family and friends, grew up in Tulare, CA, attended Tulare High School and the University of California at Berkeley. His academic career at Cal was interrupted by World War II and he enlisted in the United States Army October 6, 1942. Bud served in the 930th Aviation Engineering Regiment in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. He was a construction foreman overseeing the building of airfields, roads, and bridges during the China Offensive in Central Burma.
After his honorable discharge from the Army in January of 1946, Bud returned to complete his Bachelor of Science degree with a specialty in Extractive Metallurgy from University of California at Berkeley. Bud married Beverlee Elaine Forsblad on January 4, 1948, and upon graduation from Cal moved to Stibnite Idaho, where he took a job as assistant superintendent for the Bradley Mining Company at the Stibnite Antimony Smelter. This position began Bud Wilson's very distinguished mining career which took him to the pinnacle of American Industry, and to every corner of the world.
In 1954, with three young daughters in tow, Bud and Beverlee moved back to Palo Alto California, where Bud took a position as junior engineer with Utah International. Through his 33 year career with the company, Bud rose to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Utah in 1979. He served on the Board of Directors of BHP Minerals, Marcona, First Security, Fiberboard, and Fireman's Fund among others. He was also a director at the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Foundation, and a well known member of the Pacific Union Club in San Francisco.
Bud became one of the premier figures in the mining industry throughout the world. He was instrumental in the development of mining projects in Australia, Africa, South America, and Europe during his extensive career. Among his many accolades, Bud received the Charles F. Rand Memorial Gold Medal from the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers in 1988 for Distinguished Achievement in Mining Administration and in 2002, was one of only 3 living inductees into the National Mining Hall of Fame. Of Bud Wilson they said:
"Unique to Bud Wilson was his leadership role in making Utah International a very profitable, world-wide mining company that was highly diversified both geographically and in the products it produced…
"Bud Wilson was a true ambassador, representing U.S. industry at its very best. Utah International's growth and markets were largely overseas, and its public image and local relationships in the countries where it operated were vitally important. Under Bud Wilson's leadership, Utah International achieved excellent community, business, and government relationships in the countries where it exploited resources and in those where it marketed its products. As the leader in Utah's negotiations with governments and customers, Bud was held in highest esteem. In 1988, Bud was made an honorary member of "The Order of Australia" in recognition of his contributions to the Australian economy…"
"Bud Wilson is one of a very short list of metallurgists to rise to the chairmanship of a major U.S. mining company."
Bud Wilson was a significant supporter of the University of California during his life and was active as a member of the Hearst Mining Dean's Committee, a volunteer in the Berkeley Engineering Fund, the Engineering Advisory Board, and the Mineral Engineering Advisory Committee. He was a life member of the California Alumni Association.
In his private life Bud was a devoted family man, sportsman and true outdoorsman. He learned to ride a horse as a young man and spent many summers packing horses in the Sierra back country. Bud was an avid hunter and fisherman and pursued his interests around the world.
Bud is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Beverlee, his three daughters Shelley Dupuis, Kristin Keyes, and Alexis Wilson, his three grandchildren Christine, Ryan, and Alex, and his step brother Bill Wilson . He is remembered fondly by his family as a kind and generous man who not only achieved great success in the business world, but was a true gentleman, a man of character, and an example for others to follow.
A memorial service to celebrate Bud's life will be held at 2:00pm, June 16, at the Menlo Presbyterian Church, at 950 Santa Cruz Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
A memorial fund in Bud Wilson's name has been established in the College of Engineering at UC Berkeley. The family requests that memorial gifts be made to the UC Berkeley Foundation (IMO Alexander "Bud" Wilson) and sent to the College of Engineering, UC Berkeley, 208 McLaughlin Hall #1722, Berkeley, CA 94720-1722.