Raymond B. "Speed" Wilson, Jr

Raymond B. "Speed" Wilson, Jr. died peacefully September 11, 2015 at Cornerstone Hospice Care after battling several strokes. Ray was born on June 28, 1932 in Newport, RI, son of the late Raymond B. Wilson and Gladys (Smith) Wilson. He was raised along with sisters Doris and Sadie, by his grandmother, Sadie Thomas Wilson, "Miss Sadie" or "Aunt Sadie."Ray was a humble, gentle and non-judgemental man. His happiest childhood memories were of Kingston Avenue and "the Rec." "Speed" graduated from Rogers High School, class of 1951 where he was captain of the basketball team and voted most likely to be remembered. Following a stint in the army, Ray pursued a career in education having graduated from Boston University class of 1958 where he was a member of the B.U. basketball teama"where he met Jack Leaman and Pete Broaca.His first teaching job was at Roosevelt High School where he taught Special Education and coached the basketball team. Last April, Roosevelt High School honored him with a luncheon and presented him with "The Original Center Court" of Roosevelt High School gymnasium. In September of 1968 he left Roosevelt to become an assistant basketball coach at UMASS at Amherst. Feeling the need for a change, he took the same position at Davidson. The stay at Davidson only lasted one year and then back to UMASS as head basketball coach. After a losing season, he remained on staff. The following years were spent working for Julius Erving and The Erving Group in Philadelphia and Orlando.He leaves to mourn his wife of 50 years, Gloria Minor Wilson, daughters; Carmen Wilson of MA, and Miriam Bacon of IN, sons; Damon Martin of GA and Ray Wilson III of CA, and sister, Sadie Wilson Banks and her husband James of NY. He was grandfather to 12 grandchildren and uncle to a host of nieces and nephews. Memorial services will be held at Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport on Saturday, October 24 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, donations to the charity of choice in his name. Service OCT 24. 01:00 PM Memorial Funeral Home 375 Broadway Newport, RI, US, 02840 info@memorialfuneralhome.com http://www.memorialfuneralhome.com