The Beta-Nu Chapter of
KAPPA SIGMA
The University of Kentucky
Brother Wilson was born in Berea and is a native of Lexington and graduate of the Sayre School. He pledged into Beta-Nu Chapter in the Fall of 1977 and was initiated on January 15, 1978. During his years as an undergraduate he served as Guard, as a member of the Rush Committee, as Pledge Educator, as Social Chairman and served as Vice President in charge of Rush for the University of Kentucky Interfraternity Council. Upon his graduation from UK in 1980, he joined the Kappa Sigma Staff in Charlottesville, Virginia and was one of 5 Chapter Consultants (regional representatives) for the Fraternity. He specialized in instructing chapters in development of their rush programs and in colonization of new chapters for Kappa Sigma.
His days at Beta-Nu Chapter remain his most memorable time in the Fraternity. Wilson said, “Being an initiate of Kappa Sigma Fraternity is among the most significant parts of my life. It helped me grow to be a man, a husband, a father and a servant leader to my fellow man. I cannot thank my Brothers of Beta-Nu Chapter enough for extending me a bid to join this noble Brotherhood. When I am asked if there is ever anything that I would do differently in my Kappa Sigma experiences, I say that I wish I just had one more day again to be with all my Brothers at 460 Hilltop where this all began…it was the most special time when we were all together. Those men were some of my very best friends. They stood up with me at my wedding and they have walked with me throughout my life. While miles and time separate us…memories do not. I treasure each of them.”
He joined the Executive Staff of Kappa Sigma Fraternity in 1982; served as Director of Chapter Operations 1983- 1984; Director of Public Relations 1985-1987 and served as Acting Executive Director for two terms 1984-1985 and in 1987. He also served as Editor of the Caduceus of Kappa Sigma Fraternity from 1987-1997. He was the author of many articles and interviewed many distinguished Brothers including the owner of the Dallas Cowboys Jerry Jones; Creator of “Beetle Bailey” and “Hi and Lois” Mort Walker; News Correspondent for PrimeTIME Live Sam Donaldson; Chief Executive Director of Oracle Corporation Ray Lane and Award winning screen writer and producer for “A Perfect Storm”, “Legends of the Fall” and “Lonesome Dove” Bill Witliff.
In July of 1987, at the 56th Grand Conclave of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Worthy Grand Master and President of Indiana University John W. Ryan announced the appointment of Brother Wilson as the fourth Executive Director in the History of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He has served in that capacity for 28 years. He is the longest serving Executive Director of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, and he is currently the second longest serving Executive of all college fraternities and sororities. When Brother Wilson joined the Kappa Sigma Staff in 1980, Kappa Sigma stood as the 6th largest college fraternity with 178 chapters and colonies and 9,500 undergraduate members. In 2015, Kappa Sigma stands as the largest fraternity with 320 chapters and colonies and over 20,000 undergraduate members. His leadership has been instrumental in that growth and development. Brother Wilson served the Interfraternity World as President of the Fraternity Executives Association from 1999-2000. He has received the Fraternity Executives Association Silver Bowl for 25 years of service.
At the 69th Grand Conclave in Las Vegas, Nevada, Brother Wilson was inducted as the 18th Brother in the history of Kappa Sigma for the Fraternity’s Hall of Honor which is established at the Fraternity’s International Headquarters. The Hall of Honor includes the Five Founders of the Fraternity, First Worthy Grand Master Stephen Alonzo Jackson, Senator John G. Tower of Texas, Senator Robert J. Dole of Kansas, and Industrialist Willard F. Rockwell. At the 70th Grand Conclave in Las Vegas, the Supreme Executive Committee named the road leading to the International Headquarters as “Mitchell B. Wilson Way”. Brother Wilson’s son Teddy was the Model Initiate of the 70th Grand Conclave and his brother-in-law David Bond was specially initiated into Kappa Sigma in April of 2015. Both are enrolled as initiates of the Beta-Nu Chapter.
Brother Wilson and his wife Joan make their home in Charlottesville, Virginia. Upon his retirement they will settle in Lexington. Brother Wilson has served the Charlottesville Community as a volunteer to the University of Virginia, the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America and to several Youth Sports Programs. He currently volunteers as the Alumnus Advisor for Kappa Sigma’s Founding and Mother Chapter (Zeta Chapter) at the University of Virginia. He has twice received the Kappa Sigma’s Outstanding Alumnus Advisor Award.
He is a member of McCormick’s Circle, the 46 East Lawn Society and wears Jackson’s Men Pin #5 out of 3,500. In 2013, the Brothers of Kappa Sigma Fraternity from around North America established a named Scholarship- Leadership Award in his name to benefit an undergraduate member of Beta-Nu Chapter on an annual basis.