Changes

==Background==

==Background==

Wilson was born to Will R. and Kate Wilson in [[Dallas]], where he graduated from Highland Park High School i University Park. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in [[Geology]] at the [[University of Oklahoma]] at Norman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/justices/spct/wilson.html|title=Will Reid Wilson, Sr. (1912-2005)|publisher=Tarlton Law Center of University of Texas|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> Then he entered the Dedham Law School of [[Southern Methodist University]] in Dallas, which named him a "Distinguished Graduate." He joined the law firm of Turner, Rogers, and Wynn and served as an aide to Dallas [[Mayor]] Woodall Rogers, who served in the nonpartisan position from 1939 to 1947. Wilson left Dallas to become an assistant Texas attorney general in the state capital in [[Austin]].<ref name=obit>Will R. Wilson, Sr., obituary, ''Austin American-Statesman,'' December 16, 2005.</ref

Wilson was born to Will R. and Kate Wilson in [[Dallas]], where he graduated from Highland Park High School i University Park. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in [[Geology]] at the [[University of Oklahoma]] at Norman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tarlton.law.utexas.edu/justices/spct/wilson.html|title=Will Reid Wilson, Sr. (1912-2005)|publisher=Tarlton Law Center of University of Texas|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> Then he entered the Dedham Law School of [[Southern Methodist University]] in Dallas, which named him a "Distinguished Graduate." He joined the law firm of Turner, Rogers, and Wynn and served as an aide to Dallas [[Mayor]] Woodall Rogers, who served in the nonpartisan position from 1939 to 1947. Wilson left Dallas to become an assistant Texas attorney general in the state capital in [[Austin]].<ref name=obit>Will R. Wilson, Sr., obituary, ''Austin American-Statesman,'' December 16, 2005.</ref>

During [[World War II]], Wilson joined the [[United States Army]] and advanced to the rank of major, having served in the Pacific theater of operations in [[New Guinea]] and the [[Philippines]], where he was on the staff of [[General]]s Walter Kruger I.P. Swift. He was the battalion commander of the 465th Field Artillery. He accepted the surrender of the staff of the [[Japanese people|Japanese]] General Yamashita and received the [[Bronze Star]] for heroism in [[combat]] from General Swift. After the war, Wilson returned to Dallas to practice law.<ref name=tsc>{{cite web|url=http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=1&pers_id=2793|title=Cemetery burials|publisher=Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref>​

During [[World War II]], Wilson joined the [[United States Army]] and advanced to the rank of major, having served in the Pacific theater of operations in [[New Guinea]] and the [[Philippines]], where he was on the staff of [[General]]s Walter Kruger I.P. Swift. He was the battalion commander of the 465th Field Artillery. He accepted the surrender of the staff of the [[Japanese people|Japanese]] General Yamashita and received the [[Bronze Star]] for heroism in [[combat]] from General Swift. After the war, Wilson returned to Dallas to practice law.<ref name=tsc>{{cite web|url=http://www.cemetery.state.tx.us/pub/user_form.asp?step=1&pers_id=2793|title=Cemetery burials|publisher=Texas State Cemetery, Austin, Texas|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref>​

While he was attorney general, Wilson received the Wymann Memorial Award for 1959–1960 as the "Outstanding Attorney General in the United States."<ref name=tsc/> He moved to halt [[prostitution]] in several cities, including [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]], Victoria, Cuero, Big Spring, Texarkana, [[Beaumont, Texas|Beaumont]], and [[Port Arthur, Texas|Port Arthur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southernhistory.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=9225&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0|title=Prostitution in Texas|publisher=''Southern History''|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> Wilson's service as the top lawyer for state government ended in January 1963, when he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Vincent Waggoner Carr of [[Lubbock]].

While he was attorney general, Wilson received the Wymann Memorial Award for 1959–1960 as the "Outstanding Attorney General in the United States."<ref name=tsc/> He moved to halt [[prostitution]] in several cities, including [[Galveston, Texas|Galveston]], Victoria, Cuero, Big Spring, Texarkana, [[Beaumont, Texas|Beaumont]], and [[Port Arthur, Texas|Port Arthur]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southernhistory.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=9225&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0|title=Prostitution in Texas|publisher=''Southern History''|accessdate=December 24, 2008}}</ref> Wilson's service as the top lawyer for state government ended in January 1963, when he was succeeded by fellow Democrat Vincent Waggoner Carr of [[Lubbock]].

==Back-to-back Senate and gubernatorial races==​

==Back-to-back Senate and gubernatorial races, 1961-1962==

 

In the spring of 1961, Wilson, along with some seventy other individuals, paid the $50 filing fee to enter the [[special election]] for the [[United States Senate]] seat vacated by [[Vice President of the United States]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]],<ref name=tsc/> who along with [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], as [[U.S. Secretary of the Navy]], had joined the new administration of [[John F. Kennedy]]. Wilson trailed in fourth place in the special election with 121,961 votes (11.5 percent).<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections''</ref> Ultimately, Republican [[John Tower]], then a college [[professor]] from [[Wichita Falls]] and later from Dallas, won the remaining five and one-half years of Johnson's term by approximately ten thousand votes over Senator William Arvis Blakley of Dallas. who had been appointed on an interim basis by Governor Daniel, himself a former U.S. senator and Texas attorney general.​

In the spring of 1961, Wilson, along with some seventy other individuals, paid the $50 filing fee to enter the [[special election]] for the [[United States Senate]] seat vacated by [[Vice President of the United States]] [[Lyndon B. Johnson]],<ref name=tsc/> who along with [[John Connally|John B. Connally, Jr.]], as [[U.S. Secretary of the Navy]], had joined the new administration of [[John F. Kennedy]]. Wilson trailed in fourth place in the special election with 121,961 votes (11.5 percent).<ref>''Congressional Quarterly's Guide to U.S. Elections''</ref> Ultimately, Republican [[John Tower]], then a college [[professor]] from [[Wichita Falls]] and later from Dallas, won the remaining five and one-half years of Johnson's term by approximately ten thousand votes over Senator William Arvis Blakley of Dallas. who had been appointed on an interim basis by Governor Daniel, himself a former U.S. senator and Texas attorney general.​