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A successful [[business]]man, Wilson owned two supermarkets, including the Big Star in Vivian, and he was chairman of the board of the state-chartered Citizens Bank and Trust Company of Vivian, which also has a Shreveport branch. In 1972, Wilson helped to form the Peoples Bank & Trust Company of Blanchard, also in Caddo Parish. While a conflict of interest by virtue of his activities with the bank in Vivian prevented him from serving on the board in Blanchard as well, he did own stock in the Blanchard bank, and as a legislator he was able to get the state charter approved. Wilson was a Shriner.  

A successful [[business]]man, Wilson owned two supermarkets, including the Big Star in Vivian, and he was chairman of the board of the state-chartered Citizens Bank and Trust Company of Vivian, which also has a Shreveport branch. In 1972, Wilson helped to form the Peoples Bank & Trust Company of Blanchard, also in Caddo Parish. While a conflict of interest by virtue of his activities with the bank in Vivian prevented him from serving on the board in Blanchard as well, he did own stock in the Blanchard bank, and as a legislator he was able to get the state charter approved. Wilson was a Shriner.  

==Entering local politics==

==Entering local politics==

Wilson was elected [[mayor]] of Vivian in 1966 and served until 1972, when he assumed the District 1 seat in the state legislature. When Wilson won the Democratic nomination for the state House seat, the Republican candidate, Bruce Newton Lynn, I, withdrew in favor of Wilson, with whom he had served on the North Caddo Parish Hospital Board. Lynn described Wilson as a "very successful" mayor and a popular Vivian grocer. He was also an avid golfer and was often seen on the links at the Monterey Country Club in Vivian. Wilson was succeeded as mayor by [[James Whitfield Williamson]], a son of [[Earl Williamson]], whom Wilson had followed in the position of mayor. Earl Williamson was also a veteran Caddo Parish Police Jury member. James Williamson, like Jimmy Wilson, was affiliated with the Citizen's Bank board.  

Wilson was elected [[mayor]] of Vivian in 1966 and served until 1972, when he assumed the District 1 seat in the state legislature. When Wilson won the Democratic nomination for the state House seat, the Republican candidate, [[Bruce Lynn|Bruce Newton Lynn, I]], withdrew in favor of Wilson, with whom he had served on the North Caddo Parish Hospital Board. Lynn described Wilson as a "very successful" mayor and a popular Vivian grocer. He was also an avid golfer and was often seen on the links at the Monterey Country Club in Vivian. Wilson was succeeded as mayor by [[James Whitfield Williamson]], a son of [[Earl Williamson]], whom Wilson had followed in the position of mayor. Earl Williamson was also a veteran Caddo Parish Police Jury member. James Williamson, like Jimmy Wilson, was affiliated with the Citizen's Bank board.  

Wilson was considered a conservative reformer during his term in the legislature. He was one of the leading supporters of the [[right-to-work]] law that was adopted shortly after he left the legislature. Wilson also worked to deregulate the milk industry. In 1975, Wilson, still a Democrat, ran for the state Senate but lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent and later Republican [[Don Williamson|Donald Wayne "Don" Williamson]], then of Vivian and another son of Earl Williamson and a brother of James Williamson. Don Williamson defeated Wilson in part by reminding voters that Wilson had a high rate of absenteeism while in the state House. "He did not vote for you. Why should you vote for him," proclaimed the Williamson advertisements. Bruce Lynn after waiting out a term won Wilson's House seat by a narrow margin in the 1975 general election.

Wilson was considered a conservative reformer during his term in the legislature. He was one of the leading supporters of the [[right-to-work]] law that was adopted shortly after he left the legislature. Wilson also worked to deregulate the milk industry. In 1975, Wilson, still a Democrat, ran for the state Senate but lost in the general election to Democratic incumbent and later Republican [[Don Williamson|Donald Wayne "Don" Williamson]], then of Vivian and another son of Earl Williamson and a brother of James Williamson. Don Williamson defeated Wilson in part by reminding voters that Wilson had a high rate of absenteeism while in the state House. "He did not vote for you. Why should you vote for him," proclaimed the Williamson advertisements. Bruce Lynn after waiting out a term won Wilson's House seat by a narrow margin in the 1975 general election.