Even the gymnasium was full at St. Nicholas Church in downtown St. Louis on Saturday morning as the life of Earl Wilson Jr. was celebrated.
Civic leaders in every field imaginable crowded the church and its overflow spaces to honor the founder and president emeritus of the St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation.
U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, a cousin of the deceased, was a pallbearer. County Executive Charlie A. Dooley was present, as well as St. Louis Police Chief Daniel J. Isom, activists Percy Green II and Jamala Rogers, and corporate executives such as Johnny Furr Jr. of Anheuser-Busch and Richard Mark of Ameren.
Henry Givens Jr., president of Harris-Stowe State University, provided opening remarks, referring to the deceased as “Dr. Wilson” in recognition of the honorary doctorate in humane letters that Harris-Stowe had bestowed upon him.
Givens said that Wilson personified the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s insight that “the ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
“The measure of this great man was his concern for those less fortunate,” Givens said.
Alderwoman Marlene Davis read a lengthy resolution in praise of Wilson that – a rare honor, in this contentious city – was signed by all of the city’s 28 aldermen.
“He taught us how to do for ourselves,” Davis said. “Don’t wait for someone else to figure it out for you.”
Wilson’s pastor, Father Urey Patrick Mark, delivered a passionate and powerful homily describing their years of spiritual fellowship. Fr. Mark remembered a man he described as his mentor by his baptismal name of Joseph.
Fr. Mark described a passionate man of faith, a private Earl Wilson Jr. that was far less well known than his very public persona as an advocate for the African-American community and civic leader.
Fr. Mark spoke with amazement about how Wilson – who was born Oct. 9, 1932 and baptized as a child – insisted on being baptized again at St. Nicholas in 1956.
“I was a baby then, and I didn’t know what was happening,” Wilson said at that time. “Now, I am a man.”
Fr. Mark said, “That was Earl. He faced the truth.”
Vary rare for a homily at a funeral, Fr. Mark inspired a thunderous ovation when he told the mourners it is now their “spiritual responsibility to make sure that the Gateway Classic succeeds.”
However, on a solemn official occasion attended by many powerful leaders, the most touching moment was provided by a local youth.
Chloe Davis, one of the 108 students who have received Gateway Classic scholarships, wept as she described her debt and gratitude for the $40,000 in scholarship money that enabled her to attend Hampton University.
“His legacy continues in myself and all of the other scholars from the foundation,” Davis said. “Don’t let it die.”
Wilson passed away from pancreatic cancer Friday, Oct. 29, 2010 at his home in St. Louis. He was 78. After services on Saturday, the family buried him privately at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of floral arrangements, the family asks the community to consider a charitable contribution to the scholarship fund of the Earl Wilson, Jr., St. Louis Gateway Classic Sports Foundation.