Alabama business leader James Wilson died March 11 at the age of 59.
What happened to James Wilson?
James Winfrey Wilson III, an Alabama business leader whose firm Jim Wilson & Associates spearheaded some of the state’s best-known commercial real estate developments, has died at 59 years old. Wilson died at his Montgomery home on March 11, the company announced. Wilson and his brother Will expanded JWA, the company founded by their father, Jim Wilson Jr., who passed away in 2006.
We mourn the passing of Jim Wilson III, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
JWA has developed the Riverchase Galleria, a Louisiana shopping center in Baton Rouge; EastChase in Montgomery; and the Redstone Gateway business park in Huntsville.
— Jeremy Gray (@jgray78) March 13, 2023
“The University System of Alabama Board of Trustees is heartbroken by the loss of trustee James Wilson III, who passed away on March 11, 2023, after a courageous battle with sudden illness,” said Lin, director of communications for the system Lynn Cole said. However, the exact cause of death was not released. Friends and family took to social media to express their condolences as soon as the news broke.
Sad news. via Gary Clements. He is a wonderful person and it is a privilege to work for him and his family at Wynfrey.
Who is James Wilson?
James Wilson is an Alabama business leader who has served on its Board of Directors for the past 20 years.
Wilson is a graduate of Montgomery College and has a degree in business administration from the University of Alabama, where he is a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
After graduating from college in 1985, Wilson moved to New York City to work in commercial real estate at Manufacturers Hanover and met his wife, Susie Forst. The couple married in Rye, New York, in 1987. After the wedding, Wilson went to work for his father.
james wilson obituary
“Jim was a dynamic leader and an influential philanthropist who used his time and resources to make the lives of so many people better,” the company statement read.
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“Jim will be remembered for his unparalleled charm, unfiltered humor, and unbridled love for family and friends. Jim was kind, funny, hilarious and, like his father, an expert in the art of celebration. If you and Jim With Wilson III, you’re going to have a lot of fun.”
Wilson is survived by his wife of 35 years, Suzy. two daughters, Lillian Pascale and Wesley Clingman; mother, Winona Wilson; siblings, Elizabeth Hunt, Winston Rhys and Will Wilson; son-in-law, Matthew V. Pascale and James F. Clingman IV; and five grandchildren, JW and Nate Pascale, Lucy, Wyn and Fully Clingman.
A funeral will be held in Montgomery on March 15.
Wilson’s Business Expansion
Wilson and his brother Will expanded JWA, the company founded by their father, Jim Wilson Jr., who passed away in 2006. Founded in 1975, the company began building an average of four shopping centers a year. When the $300 million Riverchase Galleria opened in 1986, JWA bought 58 acres and Harbert Corp. bought the 78 acres where the mall now stands.
JWA has also developed the Louisiana Mall in Baton Rouge; EastChase in Montgomery; and the Redstone Gateway Business Park in Huntsville. The firm also invests in start-ups and established operating companies, including A&W Enterprises and 42 Equity. In addition, JWA has created two residential communities in Montgomery – Wynlakes, a 1,000-acre golf course community, and New Park, a 1,000-acre mixed-use development.
Wilson also served on the University of Alabama System board of trustees, served as chairman of the athletics committee, and served as chairman of the University of Alabama-Birmingham Hospital Authority.
