Donald Wilson 1925 and Winifred Read 1927 first met at Grinnell College, though they didn’t start dating there. At that time, Donald only dated “townies” according to Winifred, and didn’t pay any attention to her. However when Winifred transferred to Wellesley and Donald went to Harvard Graduate Business School, their parents set them up. Donald’s father told him to “pay attention” to her, and asked to be reimbursed for any out-of-pocket expenses. A few years later, shortly after Winifred transferred to Wellesley and Donald had received his MBA, they were married. They moved to Darien, CT, where they raised their two children, Douglas and Sara.
The Wilsons remained active members of the Grinnell community throughout their lives, and Donald joined the board of trustees in 1953, becoming a life trustee in 1979. The Wilsons gave continued support to the College, and started the Wilson Fund with the objective of “stimulating the intellectual life of both the campus and the town of Grinnell,” looking especially to connect students with alumni and other people in the world outside of academia. This fund eventually became the Wilson Center, which works to further this goal through encouraging leadership and innovation in the spirit of the Wilsons.
At Grinnell, Donald served roles as vice president and sergeant-at-arms of the Institute, one of the College’s debate team. Winifred was president of her sophomore class and a council member for the College’s chapter of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA). After graduating, they became leaders in both business and service. Donald, who started as a research economist, rose to become vice president and director of Lionel D. Edie and Company, an investment and economic consulting firm. The Wilson’s also became civic leaders: Donald served as the business coordinator for the Darien Congregational Church and Winifred worked with Darien Red Cross and represented them at the Red Cross’s National Conference.
The Wilsons were also active philanthropists, supporting Grinnell College, Harvard Business School, and a number of local community organizations, such as the Darien Land Trust, Darien Public Library, and the Stamford Hospital. The Wilsons were friends and gave counsel to a number of Presidents and other people at the College, as well as giving sustained financial support. The Wilson Center was created through a series of donations by the Wilsons over the course of their lives as well as a generous bequest.