Tom Wilson

Dr. J. Thomas Wilson III, known familiarly as Tom, set a state record when he kicked a 57-yard field goal against Mars Hill in 1971. This was one of a number of records he set as a student athlete at Emory & Henry. A kicker and lineman on the football team, Wilson was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Wilson lettered in football from 1969-71. His other records included a Point After Touchdown percentage of 92.1%, 30 consecutive PAT kicks, and 17 career field goals.

In addition to football, Wilson was a member of Blue Key and of Sigma Alpha Kappa social fraternity. He was also a standout student, becoming the first E&H student-athlete to achieve First Team Academic All-American status. At the end of his junior year, Wilson was accepted into the Medical College of Virginia, where he worked simultaneously on completing his bachelor of science and his medical degree. He was awarded his degree from Emory & Henry in 1974 and earned his M.D. two years later.

Wilson received honors as the MCV Outstanding Resident in Pediatrics three consecutive years (1977-79) and at the conclusion of his residency he received the award for outstanding pediatric house officer, given from by the pediatric faculty. After residency, he was a three-year pediatric neurology fellow at the University of Minnesota. He was then recruited to return to MVC to join the teaching faculty of the medical school.

In 1983, Wilson received the Young Alumnus of the Year Award from the Alumni Association of Emory & Henry College in recognition of his achievements in the field of medicine. Wilson became a child neurologist with Roanoke Neurological Associates and an active staff member at Carilion Roanoke Memorial and Carillon Community Hospitals. He has also served as an assistant clinical professor of neurology at the University of Virginia, Roanoke Program.