Raymond Leo Wilkinson, Sr.

"Ray" was born on June 19, 1913 in Joe Davies County, Illinois, to Raymond L. Wilkinson and Clara Anna Leitzen Wilkinson.

Graduate of Lincoln, Nebraska High School Class of 1931.

November 1928 he joined the Nebraska National Guard and worked in the dry cleaning and laundry industry, eventually opening his own store, Pleez-U-Cleaners in Lincoln, NE.

He moved to Chicago in the 1930's and became very involved in the dry cleaning and liquor business before relocating to Miami Beach, Florida, again working for "The Camel".

He reactivated in 1942 as a private in the army. He was quickly sent to Officer's Candidate School and received a special commission as a 1st Lt. He served with the 422nd Infantry in various campaigns in the European Theater of Operations starting with D-Day.

He was wounded at Omaha Beach on D-Day and returned to combat to include the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he served as Provost Marshall at the Bremerhaven Staging Area, Germany.

In 1947, while in active duty, he became a commercially licensed pilot.

During the Korean War, Captain Wilkinson was a company commander with the Army's renowned 27th Infantry "Russian Wolfhounds" Regiment serving three consecutive tours 18 months of active frontline duty, twice signing for another tour to allow other junior officers to return home.

Honorably decorated with: Combat Infantryman's Badge, Bronze Star Medal w/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters w/v Device, Multiple Purple Heart Medals, Korean Service Medal with six Bronze Service Stars. Two Overseas Bars, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal Armed Forces Reserve Medal., European Campaign, Army of Occupation, World War II Medal.

From there he served as the Commanding Officer of the Armed Forces Examining Station in Chicago.

"Wilkie" retired to San Antonio and purchased Marvel Manufacturing, started Marvel Distributors and Kwik-N-Neat Cleaners.

He was Chairman of the Board of four corporations and President of three.

As a prominent businessman he was involved with the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, Regional Export Council and was appointed by the Secretary of Commerce to the San Antonio Industries Trade Mission to Europe.

He received an honorary Doctorate in Political Science from The University of Texas San Antonio in 1967.

In 1968 he was appointed by John Connolly as an International Ambassador for HemisFAIR. He was Chairman of the International Trade center and member of the Organization and Development Committee for HemisFAIR; traveled worldwide as a member of the San Antonio Business Development Committee and received recognition by the Regional Export Expansion Council.

He was a Life member of SA Livestock Exposition.

Survivors include: Brother Donald Wilkinson, Lincoln, NE Sons: Raymond Leo Wilkinson, Jr. and wife Barbara, Michael J. Wilkinson and wife Evelyn, San Antonio, TX. Daughters:Rae Ann Gregg and husband Junior, Donna Jean Klopp and husband Robert, Lincoln, NE, Step-daughters and son include: Alan McKee and wife Sandra, Seattle, WA, Karen McKee, Kathy Torrance and Bonnie Bass, San Antonio, TX and 15 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Preceded in death by parents, Raymond Wilkinson, Clara Leitzen and step-father Jake Pollard, former wife, Jessie, Brother Carson, Sister Marcella Flatten.