“Big George” Wilson, age 81, of Ludington, passed away on May 29 at Oakview Medical Care Facility surrounded by family. He was born “in a log cabin” in Detroit, in 1930, the son of George W. “Champ” and Patricia Armstrong Wilson. He came to Mason County as a fourteen year old to work on his uncles’ farm in Fountain, and stayed in Scottville after the farm went broke. George worked on farms & the Scottville Pickle factory to make ends meet, and at times lived at the Murphy home and the Hankwitz home “for wayward boys”.

Big George joined the U.S. Air Force with his Scottville buddy Bob ”Murph” Murphy, and ended up at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma. It was in Oklahoma where he met “Beautiful Wife” Mary Kelley. They were married on June 22, 1951, and returned to his “adopted hometown” of Scottville, where they raised 6 darling children and lived happily ever after.

Big George held a variety of jobs in his lifetime, from farms to pickle factories, to bartending, driving school bus, sportscasting, refereeing, a short stint at Dow, and mainly as salesman & advertising manager at Ludington Daily News, and Advertising Manager and morning newsman/DJ at WKLA radio. He retired in 2010 but continued to write his biweekly column “By George” for the Ludington Daily News. Big George also served on the MCC School Board, as commissioner and Mayor of the City of Scottville, was a charter member of the Scottville Optimist Club, and the board of the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame. He was a member of St Jerome’s Catholic Church of Scottville, the Ludington Eagles, the Ludington Elks, and the Danish Brotherhood of Ludington. He was also a past board member of the Salvation Army, and member & past president of St. Jerome’s Parish council. Big George is to be inducted into the Mason County Sports Hall of Fame next month for his contributions to amateur athletics and as a sports media personality.

But Big George is probably best known as the frontman and “fearless leader” of the Scottville Clown Band. He became a member of the Band in 1947 after the war, when Scottville School Supertintendent A. O. Carlson recommended him to “Godfather” Ray Schulte as drum major. He remained a member for 65 years, serving as the Band Secretary for 35 of those years. His job as secretary included bookings, schedules, and “keeping the clowns in line”, an amazing feat in itself. He was best recognized in his hobo face, straw bowler hat, ratty moth-eaten black wool 1912 swimsuit, and striped toilet plunger for a baton. He led the Band through “Thousands of Miles, and Millions of Smiles”.

Big George is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary V. Kelley Wilson of Ludington; daughters Mary Margaret (Don) Klemm of Ludington, and Theresa (John) Pelizzari of Traverse City; sons Kelley (Sunny ) Wilson of Lancaster, California; George C Wilson of Rockford; and Harvey (fiancée Debbie Sweet Walters) Wilson of East Grand Rapids. Grandchildren include Lauren (Todd) Schipper and Carrie Klemm of Ludington; Kelsey (Matt) Hall of Atlanta, GA; Forey Erickson of East Lansing; Justin Wilson of Atlanta, GA; Joseph Wilson of Ann Arbor; Jenica (Christopher) Sequine of Seoul, Korea; Noah Tensen and Remington Flynn Wilson of Grand Rapids; George “Grady” Wilson of Rockford; Jimmy & David Pelizzari of Traverse City; Rylee and Baily Walters of Grand Rapids. Greatgrandchildren include Jack and Addison Schipper of Ludington; Rory and Declan Hall of Atlanta, GA; and Elia Sequine of Seoul, Korea; sister Marilyn Boshears of Royal Oak, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceeded in death by his parents; son Patrick Wilson; brothers Gerry Wilson and Norville Linton; and brother-in-law Bob Boshears.

Funeral mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am on Saturday, June 2, at St. Simon’s Catholic Church of Ludington, with Father Wayne Wheeler celebrant. The family will receive friends and family for visitation from 6pm to 8pm at Oak Grove Funeral Home on Friday, June 1. Burial will take place at Brookside Cemetary in Scottville. Contributions in memory of Big George may be directed to the family or the Scottville Clown Band scholarship fund.

The family has entrusted funeral arrangements with Oak Grove Funeral Home and Cremation Center.

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