Jim Wilson Named Tri-County's Textile Management Technology Department Head

CONTACT: JIM WILSON, EXT. 2283

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8/24/2000
(By Lisa Garrett)

PENDLETON --- James R. (Jim) Wilson, Jr., of Pickens, has been named head of the Textile Management Technology program at Tri-County Technical College.

Wilson, a longtime Alice Manufacturing Company supervisor and a 1990 alumnus of the College's Textile department, replaces Don Shirley, who has led the department since 1992. Shirley will work with Wilson throughout the fall semester until his retirement in December.

"I've worked with Don for four years, and there are goals and dreams we both share in making Tri-County's Textile and Quality Assurance Technology programs available over the Internet," said Wilson. "This venture will enable more students, who have time and location constraints, the opportunity to fulfill their higher education goals. I want to build on what Don has established and continue to move the program in that direction."

Since 1987, Wilson has worked on the management team at Alice's Ellison plant, meeting production goals daily, conducting training and orientation for new employees and emphasizing self-development, team concepts and total quality among his associates.

In addition, since 1996 he has worked as an adjunct instructor for Tri-County's Textile Management Technology and Quality Assurance Technology departments.

While at Tri-County, Wilson was named the Textile Student of the Year and graduated as the College's top Textile student. He also earned a Quality Assurance Technology certificate. He transferred to Clemson University where he graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Management in 1995. He received the Henry H. Gibson Management Merit Award given in recognition of outstanding academic performance and personal characteristics. He also was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, Golden Key NHS and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies.

He is past president (1994 - 95) of the Pickens County International Management Council. Currently he serves as the editor of the four-page monthly IMC Herald newsletter and editor of the yearly program book for which he received two National IMC Awards for Publication Excellence (for the local Chapter IMC program book 1998 - 99 and nine monthly newsletters).

In 1969, Wilson began his career in radio as an on-air personality and later worked as a program director, news director, promotions director and in sales at radio stations in Tennessee and South Carolina.

He also co-hosted music video shows on TV in Knoxville, Tennessee, and cable TV news in East Tennessee. He made a career switch in 1986, entered Tri-County and attended on a textile scholarship provided by Alice Manufacturing.

Tri-County's textile program was implemented in 1973 to serve an expressed need to the textile industry in the tri-county area. The department's advisory committee's commitment to award students scholarships annually has continued throughout the last 28 years.

Wilson and his wife, Ruth Ann, also a 1990 Textile Management Technology graduate, have three adult children and five grandchildren.
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