Mike Wilson

Michael Wilson is the son of Henry Wilson (1912-1984) and 
Claire Martindale (1922-2007). He started school at the 
Progressive school which was locate on Swamp Road 
between Highway 22 and 152. Mike guides at the Wild Rose 
Museum. This allows him to tell what it was like to go to one 
room since the Progressive school is part of the tour. He 
went to Wild Rose by 5th grade. He sang in chorus his 
freshman year. He was on the student council as a senior. 
In high school he played football as a running back and a 
defensive back. In those days lots of players played offense 
and defense. Mike was number 32 on the basketball team.  
One of his memories from the baseball team was from 1956 
when Wild Rose had to win one game to go to the state 
tournament.  Unfortunately the game was against 
Oshkosh who had won the year before.  Oshkosh also had 
a pitcher named Howie Koplitz who signed with the Detroit 
Tigers after the season.  Howie gave up three hits to Lane 
Attoe, Gary Hudziak and Arleigh Murray.  Howie also hit a 
home run among his three hits. The next game he pitched 
a perfect game so it could have been worse.  If they  had 
different classes based on school size it is likely Wild Rose 
would have won. Mike served in the Army from Dec. 1, 
1966 to Nov 29, 1968 in the 24th Supply and Transport 
doing communications work. He served in Germany. He 
worked in foundry work, machine shops, and dairy farming.  
Besides volunteering at the Wild Rose Historical Museum 
he also volunteers at the Library.