William K. Wilson
Nickname: Bill, Willy
Rank on team: SGT
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Years on Team: 1976-1977
Comments
Got to jump the show at my home town 1976-1977...Chicago,IL... One of the oldest Air Shows in the country. This was a life long dream of mine since I would see the show as a civilian. Nothing to brag about here but I was probably one of the first to come very close doing a diamond track at a live show with my tracking partner Joe Moore during my rookie year in Youngstown, Ohio in 1976. So close that I lost vision of my rip cord and had to open up at terminal velocity with a 23' tri-con reserve. Opening tore my jumpsuit landed in the field away from target and I had to have Roger Dupuis stand in for me at the line up who was pulling ground control. Pretty embarrasing and cost me a lot of beer. Also did a Diamond Track in Sioux City, IA...GREAT DIAMOND TRACK... BUT!! landed out and in a different state!!! 1977 was the first year that the Golden Knights went to Yuma, Az for spring training which is an on going thing to this day. I am sure not the first but the Black Team celebrated 100 demos in 1977 with Guy Leverett as the Team Leader in a cake cutting ceremony. One more thing that stands out in my mind was that during any free time and of course during the weekends, I spent a lot of time at the 82nd Sport Parachute Club which was run by Bobby Wrenn alais "Spider". Spider came to me,I think it was in later part of 1974 or first part of 1975 and mentioned to me that there was an opportunity to become a member of the Golden Knights by being a supply clerk and working under Joe Sanders. The only problem with that was I could get all the gear and jump it but I would have to stay at the home base and never become a demonstrator. I decided to pass that opportunity by and take my chances at try outs. It was the right choice. I will never forget the day that we were called on the bus to go to Laurinburg for training. The deal was that if you were not called on the bus it meant you got cut and you had to pack it up to go back to Army Life. That was a scary moment for me because I was one of the last guys to be called on the bus...It's funny I make my living today talking to crowds at seminars. Believe it or not the Golden Knights taught me how to get in front of a crowd and speak what is on your mind. I was so fearful back then and yet today it's a walk in the park. The team taught me a lot about life and that we are here for a purpose...NO I IN TEAM!!!...That is my claim to fame.
