Wilson Senior Care’s Founder Receives 2016 Legacy Award

On February 4, 2016, the Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce awarded the late, Dr. John McLean Wilson (Wilson Senior Care’s Founder), with the 2016 Legacy Award. The award was given by the chamber’s chairperson Jannie Lathan at the 2016 Annual Banquet.

Dr. Wilson, a Darlington native born in 1917, was a graduate of The Citadel and Duke Medical School. He was a highly decorated Captain in the US Army Medical Corps during World War II as a Battalion Surgeon and paratrooper in the 517th Airborne Infantry Regiment of the 82nd Airborne Division. He jumped behind enemy combat lines in Germany and France as part of a team, which established a field hospital. He also served with the 13th and 101st Airborne Divisions in the European Theater. His last military assignment was at the Regional Hospital in Fort Bragg, NC, as Chief of the Contagious Disease Section.

Upon his return to Darlington, he and his wife of 50 years, Amelia Talbert Wilson, founded the Wilson Clinic and Hospital in 1947. The first hospital in Darlington, the facility began in a two-story house on Pearl Street. Dr. Wilson was known for performing the first surgical procedure in Darlington and was the first physician to deliver infants in a hospital. He remained President and Chairman of the Board of Wilson Senior Car

e, Inc., until his death. His devotion to his patients and employees was a guiding presence throughout his distinguished career. Dr. Wilson was actively involved in this community. He was a championship golfer, avid fisherman, skilled hunter, and master gardener. He served as a member of Darlington City Council, Mayor pro tem, member and past president of St. David’s Society, member and past president of the Darlington Country Club, and was on the vestry of St. Matthews Episcopal Church for many years.

In 2003, Dr. Wilson decided to sell a portion of the company back to the dedicated employees. Several years later his four children sold their shares to the employees making Wilson Senior Care 100% employee owned.

Dr. Wilson passed away on June 14, 2006. What once was a family owned business has grown into what we know as Wilson Senior Care, the parent company of, Oakhaven Nursing Center, Medford Nursing Center, Morrell Nursing Center, The Rehab Center at Morrell, Loris Rehab and Nursing Center, MedWear Uniforms, and Med Center Pharmacy and Medical Supply. The company now has over 600 employees and over 400 skilled nursing residents in the state of South Carolina. One of Dr. Wilson’s favorite sayings-, “We can never become complacent and stop improving ourselves.”

Accepting the award on his father’s behalf was Dr. Tommy Wilson. “This is quite an honor to accept this on behalf of my family to honor for my father for all his hard work. Everything Jannie says is true,” said Wilson. “He was a great father, a great physician, and a great Darlington citizen. Thank you.”