This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Fred Wilson, former Longmont mayor can be remembered fondly in many ways. Wilson was passionate about many things. He was a master woodworker, windsurfer, homebrewer, artist, and cyclist.
Wilson seemed to have a knack to move from interest to interest in career moving to Longmont in 1972. Born in Patterson, New Jersey Fred served in the Navy as pilot later working with Head skis, Radio Shack, Western Foundries, and StorageTek. As Wilson's obituary from Ahlberg Funeral Chapel reads, "above all else, Fred loved MaryAnn and their two children, Dan and Leah." Fred Wilson passed on January 10th of 2020 due to complications of dementia.
In 1989 Wilson was elected Longmont Mayor in an unexpected election win. Then serving 13 years on the city council. One of his many accomplishments as mayor included converting Union Reservoir from a once a private lake to be available to the public as a no-wake lake. This also opened Union Reservoir to windsurfing and fishing.
Wilson had an inclusive approach for citizen involvement. Over his two terms as mayor, he built a reputation by listening to residents' points of view and believed that residents needed to know why decisions of the city council were made.
MaryAnn Wilson married her husband in 1967 and moved to Longmont in 1972. MaryAnn said, "Fred didn't like to be in charge. He wanted to sit back and watch someone else run the show. When asked about the election I said, 'What you see is what you get.' He was upfront, honest, intelligent. He didn't have airs or agendas. Fred didn't run for mayor just to get Union Reservoir into the city but it was nice to do once he was involved with politics."
Tom Beaman former pastor of Grace Evangelical Free Church said, "I was an avid windsurfer at the time. I called Fred one day and asked him, 'When are we going to be able to windsurf Union Reservoir' and Fred said he would be there the same afternoon if I would like to meet him there? Fred had an impish sense of humor and I enjoyed him a lot. Someone said at the memorial that Fred didn't talk a lot but when he did people listened. Fred didn't care for a lot of talk or fluff but would sit back and think. He could sort through the relevant factors of the problem and sort them out in way to show what we should do. Then he would get it done. One of the last things I told Fred was when I grow up I want to be like him."
Leah Valentine who is Fred and MaryAnn Wilson's daughter said, "My dad's sense of humor was legendary, quirky and fun. He loved to make people laugh and smile. He just had a natural ability to fix stuff. When Roger Lane stepped in to become mayor my dad went and talked to him and said I am here if you have any questions?" Valentine then expanded the story to include that Wilson then told Lane "There is one thing. Even if you don't feel like a mayor you should look like a mayor." Wilson then pulled out his black felt top hat and put it on Lane's head. The moment was so impactful that Lane brought the hat to Wilson's memorial.
The stories about Fred Wilson and his life in Longmont go deep into the community. It is clear that Wilson reached many people in a unique and different way. A leader, father, husband, friend and mayor; Fred Wilson's heartwarming impact on Longmont is clearly one of a kind.
