5/21/2004 A GOOD MAN PASSES: Griffin remembered for postiveness, friendship


By DEANNA PAWLOWSKI/Daily Sun Staff

Former Corsicana mayor, Corsicana Daily Sun publisher and Tiger football fan Wilson J. Griffin died Wednesday at age 74.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Robbie; two sons, Davey and Sandy Griffin of Bryan; and Dana and Karen Griffin of Corsicana; and four grandchildren, Garrison and Logan of Bryan and Nathan and Gracie of Corsicana. He is also survived by brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Helen Griffin of Forney.

Griffin was employed by the Corsicana Daily Sun for 49 and one-half years, in several occupations.

"I worked for Wilson while he was general manager and publisher. We all respected Wilson for his knowledge of the newspaper industry, his dedication to his job, and his dedication to publishing a quality community newspaper," Daily Sun publisher Gary Connor said.

"For 50 years, Wilson Griffin was the Corsicana Daily Sun in the eyes of most readers. No one personality will ever represent the Corsicana Daily Sun in the minds of our readers more than Wilson. No one knew the history of the Daily Sun or the community better than Wilson.

"How many individuals leave the legacy of having worked at any business from an entry level position to the very top, then serve their community as mayor? Only a very, very few individuals and Wilson is at the top of that list.
"On behalf of the Daily Sun family, I want to extend our sympathy to all of Wilson's family," Connor added. "You are all in our prayers at this time of great loss."

Griffin served as mayor of Corsicana for four terms, ending in May 2001. During that time, he had opportunity to work closely with many city employees, including city engineer Connie Standridge, now serving as interim city manager.

"We are so saddened by the loss," Standridge said. "Wilson was an excellent mayor. He had a huge sense of community, and was a supporter of Corsicana. He was an active supporter, and will truly be missed. He was a really good man."

Another city employee, Sharla Allen of the Corsicana Parks and Recreation Department, said Griffin was great to work with, as well as kind to her personally.

"It is with great sadness that I learned of the loss of Mayor Wilson Griffin," Allen said. "What a gentle man! When I think of him, I think of the saying that 'He who influences the thought of his time, influences the thought of all the times that follow.'

"Mayor Griffin was a true community leader, and served as an example to us all. His work with the City of Corsicana will long be remembered. I personally shall never forget his thoughtfulness and kindness. We at the Corsicana Parks and Recreation Department feel the loss and want to extend our heartfelt sympathy to his family."

Devoted to his town, Griffin tried to make the city a better place by serving as chairman of the Salvation Army board several years, as a member of the Kiwanis club, and was active in "Turn Around Corsicana," an effort to stamp out drug use and sales in the community.

He was also a devoted football fan.

"He was the number one Tiger fan in town," said Donnie Denbow of C.I.S.D. "He attended all the Tiger games for many years, and all the booster club programs. Before and after his boys played football, he used his accounting acumen to handle the finances of the booster club. He gave good advice, and helped the club follow state guidelines ... Many hours were devoted to the Tigers.

"He sold football programs down on the track," Denbow said. "He did everything he could to support the schools and athletic programs, especially the football program.

"There was no more Christian-centered individual than Wilson Griffin. I have never known him to say anything negative about anyone. He has always looked for the positive in every situation."

Griffin had been in Corsicana a long time, and attended high school with fellow First Baptist Church member, Don Tekell. Tekell's son Craig and Griffin's son Dana are close friends and golf buddies.

"Every Saturday morning, we had breakfast together at Roy's Cafe, and have for years," Don Tekell said. "We have coffee together every day at 2:30, and used to go to all the football games together. Dana would drive us, and we'd all pile in the big Suburban.

"He was a wonderful Christian man with very high principles ... never heard him say a bad word, and he was on the right side of every issue."

Joe G. Sims and wife, Peggy, are also good friends, and fellow Tiger fans.

"He and I have been close a long time, and he was like a brother to me," Joe G. Sims said. "We have been pals a long time. I think a whole lot of him.

"Our families used to vacation together when the kids were small, and we also attended the football games together. We played dominoes.

"There is not a finer man than Wilson Griffin. He is quite a community worker -- honest as the day is long. If he was your pal -- he was your pal forever."

Bill Roberts met Wilson Griffin at First Baptist, and has had a close friendship with him several years.

"We're domino buddies -- we've been playing a couple of years. Wilson really liked to play," Roberts said. "We met every Wednesday afternoon at the Senior Activity Center to play 42.

"He is the finest person you could imagine ... a good friend, a good old boy, easygoing ... I knew he would go to bat for me."

Griffin was a member of First Baptist Church for many, many years. He served as a deacon for 40 years, was a Sunday School Department director many years for young, median and senior adult Sunday School classes, and served on the education committee, personnel committee, and was the treasurer of the church for 30 years. B.F. Risinger, Jr. was his pastor for the past 25 years.

"He was as faithful and steadfast as anybody I've ever known in his responsibilities to the church and the Lord's work," Risinger said. "Every Sunday morning, he was in his place and taking care of his responsibilities -- and he had a sweet spirit, and did it because he wanted to.

"He loved people -- it didn't matter who they were."

Funeral services for Wilson J. Griffin will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church, with Rev. B.F. Risinger, Jr. and Rev. O.E. Permenter presiding.

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Deanna Pawlowski may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]
 

Notes:

• Wilson was a Senior at Corsicana High School, class of 1947
• Added to www.findagrave.com
   

Wilson J. Griffin

Wilson J. Griffin, 74, of Corsicana passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2004, in Corsicana.

There will be family at Corley Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. today.

Services will be 1 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church with the Rev. B.F. Risinger Jr. and the Rev. O.E. Permenter officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jeff Berry, Craig Tekell, Bill Roberts, Jerry Ashcraft, Rex Peddy and Truett Lewis. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Sims, Monty Trimble, Wayne Rose, Bill Lassiter, Don Lake, Norman Gilcrease, Don Tekell, Joe Bob Tekell, George Baum, Neal Crawford and deacons of First Baptist Church.

Mr. Griffin was born April 11, 1930, in Roswell, N.M. He was the former mayor of Corsicana and former publisher of the Corsicana Daily Sun.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Eunice Griffin; and brother, Virgil W. Griffin Jr.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Robbie Griffin of Corsicana; son and daughter-in-law, Davey and Sandy Griffin, and grandsons, Garrison and Logan, all of Bryan; son and daughter-in-law, Dana and Karen Griffin, and grandchildren, Nathan and Gracie, all of Corsicana; and brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Helen Griffin of Forney.

Arrangements by Corley Funeral Home

Corsicana Daily Sun
5/22/2004 ObituariesWilson J. Griffin

Wilson J. Griffin, 74, of Corsicana passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2004, in Corsicana.

Services will be 1 p.m. today at First Baptist Church with the Rev. B.F. Risinger Jr. and the Rev. O.E. Permenter officiating. Interment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jeff Berry, Craig Tekell, Bill Roberts, Jerry Ashcraft, Rex Peddy and Truett Lewis. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Sims, Monty Trimble, Wayne Rose, Bill Lassiter, Don Lake, Norman Gilcrease, Don Tekell, Joe Bob Tekell, George Baum, Neal Crawford and deacons of First Baptist Church.

Wilson Griffin was born April 11, 1930, in Roswell, N.M. He graduated from Corsicana High School and Navarro College. He began working at Curington Cleaners and from that started delivering papers for the Corsicana Daily Sun, working up to publisher of the paper over a period of 49 1/2 years. He was very instrumental in Turn Around Corsicana and served as mayor for eight years. He received the Citizen of the Year Award by the Corsicana Chamber of Commerce and the Community Service Award by the Corsicana Rotary Club. He received the Sam Walton Community Leader Award. He was a charter member of the Kiwanis Club with near perfect attendance, and received the Layman of the Year Award two times. He served on the board of the Warehouse Living Arts Center, Navarro County Ambulatory Care chairman, Salvation Army board chairman. He served on the Community Housing Development. He was a member of the CHS Booster Club and former member of NCARC. He served as monitor in the school system and really enjoyed the Step on Tours of Corsicana as he served on the tourism committee. He was a Christian and longtime member of First Baptist Church, and currently church treasurer, deacon board and minister to senior adults. The 2003 Image Maker Award was one of his most recent Chamber of Commerce awards.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Eunice Griffin; and brother, Virgil W. Griffin Jr.

Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Robbie Griffin of Corsicana; son and daughter-in-law, Davey and Sandy Griffin, and grandsons, Garrison and Logan, all of Bryan; son and daughter-in-law, Dana and Karen Griffin, and grandchildren, Nathan and Gracie, all of Corsicana; and brother and sister-in-law, Jerry and Helen Griffin of Forney.

A video tribute to Wilson Griffin may be viewed on the Internet by going to www.corleyfuneralhome.com. Select obituaries and click on the Video Memorials link.

Arrangements by Corley Funeral Home.

Reprinted with permission of the Corsicana Daily Sun
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