Bonard S. Wilson Biography

Dr. Bonard Scott "Willie" Wilson was born March 5, 1919, the youngest of nine children. his parents, Walter S. and Eva Wilson of Patton Ill., in Wabash County, were farmers. Willie, as he was popularly known, attended elementary and high schools in Wabash County, graduating from high school in 1936. He had one year in vocational agriculture and FFA and three years in 4-H. Enrolling at the University of Illinois in 1936 on a County Farmers Institute Scholarship, he put himself through school by working a meal and other jobs and graduated with Honors in 1940. His major was general agriculture.
While in college, Bonard was active in University Place Christian Church and the Illinois Disciples Foundation, where he was honored for his work by being named to THE XII. He was a member of the General Agriculture, Agricultural Education, and Hoof and Horn Clubs, University YMCA, Alpha Zeta, Alpha Tau Alpha, and Gamma Sigma Delta. While he was an undergraduate, Bonard met Mary Ellen Seals ('41), a home economics major. Married March 7, 1942, they were the parents of four children--Bonard Scott ('44), Sherry Lynn ('46), Sue Ellen ('52), and Sally Ann ('54).
After Bonard graduated from the U of I, he organized the Vocational Agriculture Department in the high school at Noble, Il., and taught there two years. he then entered the US Army Air Force, becoming a B-17 navigator. Assigned to the European Theater of Operations, his plane was shot down over Germany on Jan. 20, 1944. He received the Purple Heart for the broken and dislocated neck suffered when he parachuted from the crippled B-17. When he regained consciousness after the fall, he found that a German woman had done what she could for his injuries, but Mother Nature healed them while he was a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III, Stalag I in Germany. Starting this ill-fated mission on Jan. 30, 1944, his return was on May 13, 1945, some 15.5 months later. While he was a POW, Bonard learned in November that he was a father, Scottie having been born July 27, 1944. Bonard received the Air Medal for seven combat missions.
Following his discharge from the military, Bonard returned to the U of I as a graduate student, receiving his M.S> in October 1946 and his Ed.M in October 1947. He then began work on his Ed.D., completing it in February 1950. In 1947, he joined the staff of the department of Agricultural Education, University of Tennessee, and continued to work on his doctorate, too. Bonard was named head of the department in 1951. he did post-doctoral study in Education at UCLA in 1954-55, after which he was Coordinator, Field Development, Adult Education Association of the United States until 1957.
From 1957 to 1959, he was Training Adviser in Community Development in the Phillippines. He was Assistant Director of Informal Instructional Services, University Extension, University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1959-1961. From 1961-63, he served as the training officer for the US Public Health Service Dental Heath Center in San Francisco.
In 1963, Bonard began a series of overseas assignments in Southern Rhodesia, Iran, and Panama for the Agency for International Development. After that, he was with the Human Development Institute in Atlanta, was Dean of Milton College in Wisconsin, helped establish a college in California, was Founder and Director of the Center for Families, and established Bonard Associates, marketing energy-conserving products. Bonard retired in 1986 to Spokane, Wash.
An idea man and a thinker, Bonard contributed to Nabor House in many ways while he was an undergraduate, including helping to develop the organizational structure and procedures for operating the fraternity and house. When he returned to the campus after the war, he worked enthusiastically to help re-establish Nabor House on a sound footing. He took an active role in getting the Chapter chartered as a not-for-profit corporation. Bonard also assumed the lead in getting expert help in setting up the Fraternity's accounting system. As Fraternity Treasurer, he was a major force in implementing the system and making it work. It was so effective and practical that it remains in use today with only inor adjustments to accommodate the Fraternity's current broader financial activities.
- As written in "An Idea and an Ideal," a history of Nabor House published in 1989.
While in college, Bonard was active in University Place Christian Church and the Illinois Disciples Foundation, where he was honored for his work by being named to THE XII. He was a member of the General Agriculture, Agricultural Education, and Hoof and Horn Clubs, University YMCA, Alpha Zeta, Alpha Tau Alpha, and Gamma Sigma Delta. While he was an undergraduate, Bonard met Mary Ellen Seals ('41), a home economics major. Married March 7, 1942, they were the parents of four children--Bonard Scott ('44), Sherry Lynn ('46), Sue Ellen ('52), and Sally Ann ('54).
After Bonard graduated from the U of I, he organized the Vocational Agriculture Department in the high school at Noble, Il., and taught there two years. he then entered the US Army Air Force, becoming a B-17 navigator. Assigned to the European Theater of Operations, his plane was shot down over Germany on Jan. 20, 1944. He received the Purple Heart for the broken and dislocated neck suffered when he parachuted from the crippled B-17. When he regained consciousness after the fall, he found that a German woman had done what she could for his injuries, but Mother Nature healed them while he was a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III, Stalag I in Germany. Starting this ill-fated mission on Jan. 30, 1944, his return was on May 13, 1945, some 15.5 months later. While he was a POW, Bonard learned in November that he was a father, Scottie having been born July 27, 1944. Bonard received the Air Medal for seven combat missions.
Following his discharge from the military, Bonard returned to the U of I as a graduate student, receiving his M.S> in October 1946 and his Ed.M in October 1947. He then began work on his Ed.D., completing it in February 1950. In 1947, he joined the staff of the department of Agricultural Education, University of Tennessee, and continued to work on his doctorate, too. Bonard was named head of the department in 1951. he did post-doctoral study in Education at UCLA in 1954-55, after which he was Coordinator, Field Development, Adult Education Association of the United States until 1957.
From 1957 to 1959, he was Training Adviser in Community Development in the Phillippines. He was Assistant Director of Informal Instructional Services, University Extension, University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1959-1961. From 1961-63, he served as the training officer for the US Public Health Service Dental Heath Center in San Francisco.
In 1963, Bonard began a series of overseas assignments in Southern Rhodesia, Iran, and Panama for the Agency for International Development. After that, he was with the Human Development Institute in Atlanta, was Dean of Milton College in Wisconsin, helped establish a college in California, was Founder and Director of the Center for Families, and established Bonard Associates, marketing energy-conserving products. Bonard retired in 1986 to Spokane, Wash.
An idea man and a thinker, Bonard contributed to Nabor House in many ways while he was an undergraduate, including helping to develop the organizational structure and procedures for operating the fraternity and house. When he returned to the campus after the war, he worked enthusiastically to help re-establish Nabor House on a sound footing. He took an active role in getting the Chapter chartered as a not-for-profit corporation. Bonard also assumed the lead in getting expert help in setting up the Fraternity's accounting system. As Fraternity Treasurer, he was a major force in implementing the system and making it work. It was so effective and practical that it remains in use today with only inor adjustments to accommodate the Fraternity's current broader financial activities.
- As written in "An Idea and an Ideal," a history of Nabor House published in 1989.
Wilson's Obituary
Nabor House Founder Dr. Bonard S. Wilson ’40 of Hili, Hawaii, died March 2, 2006. Born in Patton, Illinois on March 5, 1919, he was the youngest of nine children. After graduating from high school in Wabash County, he enrolled at the University of Illinois in 1936 on a County Farmers Institute Scholarship. He graduated in 1940 with a bachelors degree in general agriculture.
While in college, Bonard was active in a variety of organizations, including the University Place Christian Church, University YMCA, Alpha Zeta, Alpha Tau Alpha, Gamma Sigma Delta, and the General Agriculture, Agricultural Education, and Hoof and Horn Clubs. An as undergraduate, Bonard met Mary Ellen Seals ’41, a home economics major. They were married on March 7, 1942 and were the parents of four children: Bonard Scott, Sherry Lynn, Sue Ellen, and Sally Ann.
After graduating from the U of I, Bonard organized the Vocational Agriculture Department in the high school at Noble, Illinois and taught there for two years. He then entered the US Army Air Force, becoming a B-17 navigator. Assigned to the European Theater of Operations, his plane was shot down over Germany on January 20, 1944. He received the Purple Heart for the broken and dislocated neck suffered when he parachuted from the crippled B-17. He was held as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III, Stalag I in Germany until his release on May 13, 1945.
Following discharge from the military, Bonard return to the U of I as a graduate student, receiving his MS in 1946, Ed.M. in 1947, and Ed.D. in 1950. He went on to serve as Head of the Department of Agricultural Education at the University of Tennessee (1951-54), Coordinator of Field Development for the Adult Education Association of the United States (1955-57), Training Advisor in Community Development in the Philippines (1957-59), Assistant Director of Informal Instructional Services at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1959-61), and Training Officer for the US Public Health Service Dental Health Center in San Francisco (1961-63).
In 1963, Bonard began a series of overseas assignments in southern Rhodesia, Iran and Panama for the Agency for International Development. He went on to serve with the Human Development Institute in Atlanta, was Dean of Milton College in Wisconsin, helped establish a college in California, was Founder and Director of The Center for Families, and established Bonard Associates – a company marketing energy conserving products. He retired in 1986.
An idea man and a thinker, Bonard contributed to Nabor House in many ways while he was an undergraduate, including helping to develop the organizational structure and procedures for operating the Fraternity and house. When he returned to the campus after the war, he worked enthusiastically to help re-establish the Fraternity on sound footing. He took an active role in getting the Chapter chartered as a not-for-profit corporation. Donald also assumed the lead in getting expert help in setting up the Fraternity’s accounting system. As Fraternity Treasurer, he was a major force in implementing the system and making it work. It was so effective and practical that it remains in use today with only minor adjustments to accommodate the Fraternity’s current broader financial activities.
A celebration of Bonard’s life was held in fall 2006 in Spokane, Washington with more than 50 people in attendance. Bonard’s wife Mary Ellen and his three daughters displayed two books and pictures about many phases of Bonard’s life, and the entire group enjoyed a terrific slide show featuring over 100 pictures. A true pioneer of Nabor House, Dr. Bonard Wilson will be greatly missed.
While in college, Bonard was active in a variety of organizations, including the University Place Christian Church, University YMCA, Alpha Zeta, Alpha Tau Alpha, Gamma Sigma Delta, and the General Agriculture, Agricultural Education, and Hoof and Horn Clubs. An as undergraduate, Bonard met Mary Ellen Seals ’41, a home economics major. They were married on March 7, 1942 and were the parents of four children: Bonard Scott, Sherry Lynn, Sue Ellen, and Sally Ann.
After graduating from the U of I, Bonard organized the Vocational Agriculture Department in the high school at Noble, Illinois and taught there for two years. He then entered the US Army Air Force, becoming a B-17 navigator. Assigned to the European Theater of Operations, his plane was shot down over Germany on January 20, 1944. He received the Purple Heart for the broken and dislocated neck suffered when he parachuted from the crippled B-17. He was held as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft III, Stalag I in Germany until his release on May 13, 1945.
Following discharge from the military, Bonard return to the U of I as a graduate student, receiving his MS in 1946, Ed.M. in 1947, and Ed.D. in 1950. He went on to serve as Head of the Department of Agricultural Education at the University of Tennessee (1951-54), Coordinator of Field Development for the Adult Education Association of the United States (1955-57), Training Advisor in Community Development in the Philippines (1957-59), Assistant Director of Informal Instructional Services at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (1959-61), and Training Officer for the US Public Health Service Dental Health Center in San Francisco (1961-63).
In 1963, Bonard began a series of overseas assignments in southern Rhodesia, Iran and Panama for the Agency for International Development. He went on to serve with the Human Development Institute in Atlanta, was Dean of Milton College in Wisconsin, helped establish a college in California, was Founder and Director of The Center for Families, and established Bonard Associates – a company marketing energy conserving products. He retired in 1986.
An idea man and a thinker, Bonard contributed to Nabor House in many ways while he was an undergraduate, including helping to develop the organizational structure and procedures for operating the Fraternity and house. When he returned to the campus after the war, he worked enthusiastically to help re-establish the Fraternity on sound footing. He took an active role in getting the Chapter chartered as a not-for-profit corporation. Donald also assumed the lead in getting expert help in setting up the Fraternity’s accounting system. As Fraternity Treasurer, he was a major force in implementing the system and making it work. It was so effective and practical that it remains in use today with only minor adjustments to accommodate the Fraternity’s current broader financial activities.
A celebration of Bonard’s life was held in fall 2006 in Spokane, Washington with more than 50 people in attendance. Bonard’s wife Mary Ellen and his three daughters displayed two books and pictures about many phases of Bonard’s life, and the entire group enjoyed a terrific slide show featuring over 100 pictures. A true pioneer of Nabor House, Dr. Bonard Wilson will be greatly missed.