W. Sherard Wilson – National 4-H Hall of Fame

W. Sherard Wilson was a “Citizen of the World.” He was a leader in promoting racial diversity in 4-H and was instrumental in Maryland being the first state to include an African-American teen in its four person delegation to National 4-H Conference in 1960. He helped make Maryland 4-H a national leader by creating a Natural Resources camp and 4-H Leadership Development camp. In retirement, Wilson and his wife Sue made many volunteer contributions to 4-H, traveled extensively, and hosted scores of foreign students, including many Thai students whose extended families became lifelong friends.

Sherrard Wilson spent most of his retirement in Ellicott City. In October 2000, the Maryland 4-H Foundation honored Wilson for his support of Maryland 4-H and to say farewell as he prepared to move to Thailand to live near his adopted Thai family. At that event, he made a contribution of $50,000 to the Maryland 4-H Foundation to establish the Sue and Sherard Wilson Endowment Fund to support natural resources workshops, training and trips. Wilson died in Bangkok, Thailand, a few months after his arrival.

Quote

From the 1949 Maryland 4-H All Star Book:
“…Sherard is the same honest, efficient, conscientious man in his daily life. In a very real way he naturally lives the All Star motto Service as few of us can do by self discipline.”

From his obiturary:
“It would be difficult to name a Maryland native who more truly was a “Citizen of the World” for more than half a century than the late W. Sherard Wilson, state 4-H Youth Leader from 1954-1967.”

My 4-H Story

From the 1949 Maryland 4-H All Star Book: “…Sherard is the same honest, efficient, conscientious man in his daily life. In a very real way he naturally lives the All Star motto Service as few of us can do by self discipline.” From his obiturary: “It would be difficult to name a Maryland native who more truly was a “Citizen of the World” for more than half a century than the late W. Sherard Wilson, state 4-H Youth Leader from 1954-1967.”

Sherard Wilson presents a check to Paul Rock, then chair of the Maryland 4-H Foundation, to establish an endowment fund.

Honors & Activities

National 4-H Salute to Excellence award, 2002;
Univ. of Maryland College of Agriculture Alumni Meritorious Service to Agriculture award, 1980;
Member, Epsilon Sigma Phi extension professional organization;
Maryland 4-H All Stars, 1946. The W. Sherard Wilson Service Award presented annually to a Maryland 4-H volunteer who demonstrates unselfish and numerous acts of service to 4-H, others, state and community.

State 4-H youth leader 1954-1967. Serving as World War II Army rifle instructor led to his being a proponent of the 4-H shooting sports/gun safety program.