ANDERSON — The worth of a man can never truly be captured by official proclamations, athletic statistics or coaching records, but by personal conduct, the quiet example set while not calling attention to yourself and the lives you've impacted in a positive way.
By that measure, Jumpin' Johnny Wilson may well have been the richest man in Anderson Friday as approximately 500 people gathered at Anderson High School for the unveiling of a sculpture honoring his life and legacy.
"You can't imagine the emotion I have today," said Wilson's childhood friend, Carl Erskine."Can you imagine imagine having a friend for 80 years?"
"We were different. We looked different. We came from a different kind of background, but we lived in the same neighborhood, and we shared the same table many times at both houses," Erskine said.
"We were two skinny kids from the west side. We made every team, but we never made the honor roll. I can sum up my relationship with John this way: He was my brother without the blood."
Erskine wasn't the first speaker at Friday's ceremony. That privilege was reserved for family, including a cousin, Mildred Powell, and his son, John Wilson Jr.
"None of us would be here today without the sacrifice of those who came before us," Powell said.
"John was never selfish. Nor did he mind helping others find their dreams." she said. "He embraced the idea that each one needs to help one. That hasn't changed.
"There were many young men from Anderson and all over the county that he encouraged to finish high school and go to college. He was a role model. He served in the United States Army, never drank, never smoked, and was a model citizen."
Wilson led the Anderson High School boys basketball team to a state championship in 1946, attended what was then Anderson College and set records that still stand today. He later earned a master's degree at Indiana University and an honorary doctorate degree from Anderson University.
"To my young relatives," Powell said, "John Wilson is an example of how to obtain success; not by giving up, not by copying what others do, but by being determined to succeed in spite of the obstacles."
"I can tell you as we kick off the Memorial Day weekend, how could you do it any better than to honor one of our own who's given so much to our community?" said Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr., who read a proclamation for Wilson passed recently by the Anderson City Council.
Noting the "sea of people" in attendance, he added "it's quite a testament to the character and the values Johnny has exhibited through his entire life."
John Wilson Jr., a basketball coach in his own right, said he was both amazed and appreciative of the honor to his father, calling Anderson "another one of those Indiana towns that takes care of its own."
Primus Mootry, a founder and chairman of the Anderson Impact Center and a leading promoter of the sculpture, served as master of ceremonies for the event.
Funding was provide by Community Hospital Anderson and St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital, as well as private donations large and small.
The bronze sculpture, designed by artist Ken Ryden, is nine feet tall, and shows Wilson in his prime, wearing his Harlem Globetrotters uniform, his arm and basketball extended toward the sky.
Ryden called the piece "Far Reaching Goals," because Wilson's legacy in Anderson goes far beyond basketball.
"This has been a delightful work but a great challenge, because I had two missions in mind," he said. "One was trying to capture — and how do you do that? — the life of Johnny Wilson. I mean there's just so much depth there and so much to it.
"And the other was to try and inspire young people. I know this was important to Johnny, too, because we talked about it quite a bit. He would like to pass something on to the younger generations that is in reference to the inspiration that led him in his life."
Anderson School Superintendent Terry Thompson said the school district is honored to have the sculpture because "it will inspire and encourage all the kids who come today and in the future," Thompson said. "The goal of our school system, our vision, is for every child that walks through that door to graduate. And not only to graduate, but to be a productive citizen in this community."
Wilson said he was gratified his three children, as well as grandchildren and great-grandchildren were all able to join him at Friday's celebration.
"I'm really glad to see them here to enjoy this day with me," Wilson said, adding, "I don't know how, really, to thank all of you for showing up. But I really appreciate it."