Camp Wilson
{{Short description|American football player (1922–2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Camp Wilson
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| number =
| position = Fullback
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1922|3|29}}
| birth_place = Pecos, Texas
| death_date = {{death date and age|2001|03|22|1922|3|29}}
| death_place = Sierra Vista, Arizona
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 1
| weight_lbs = 200
| high_school = El Paso (TX)
| college = Tarleton, Hardin-Simmons, Tulsa
| draftyear =
| draftround =
| draftpick =
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|1946}}–{{NFL Year|1949}})
| pastcoaching =
| highlights =
- 1943 Sun Bowl
- 1944 Sugar Bowl
- 1945 Orange Bowl
- 1946 Oil Bowl
- 3× Detroit Lions leading rusher (1946–1948)
| coachregrecord =
| pfr = WilsCa20
| pfrcoach =
| HOF =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 = 1,453
| statlabel2 = Yds/Carry
| statvalue2 = 3.8
| statlabel3 = Touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 6
}}
Warren Camp Wilson (March 29, 1922 – March 22, 2001) was an American football player. He played college football at Tarleton Junior College (1941), Hardin–Simmons University (1942), and the University of Tulsa (1943–1945). He helped lead his teams to appearances in the four consecutive New Year's Day bowl games: 1943 Sun Bowl, 1944 Sugar Bowl, 1945 Orange Bowl, and 1946 Oil Bowl. He later played at the fullback position for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) from 1946 to 1949 and was the team's leading rusher each year from 1946 to 1948.
Early years
A native of Pecos, Texas, Wilson attended El Paso High School. He played fullback for the El Paso football team.
==College football==
Wilson began his college football career at Tarleton Junior College in 1941. He played the 1942 season at Hardin–Simmons University, rushing for 981 rushing yards,{{cite news|title=Mobley's Sweater Placed on Hook|newspaper=The Brownsville Herald|date=November 29, 1942|page=13|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4357203/mobleys_sweater_placed_on_hook/}} and leading the team to an appearance in the 1943 Sun Bowl where he scored Hardin-Simmons' only touchdown.{{cite news|title=4-Bowl Game Man|newspaper=El Paso Herald-Pos|author=Bob Ingram|date=May 17, 1960|page=23|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4357776/4_bowl_game_man/}} After the 1942 season, he served briefly in the Army but was discharged as unfit due to an ankle injury.{{cite news|title=Army Discharges Camp Wilson for Ankle Injury|author=Bob Ingram|newspaper=El Paso Herald-Post|date=October 1, 1943|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4357260/army_discharges_camp_wilson/}}
In October 1943, Wilson enrolled at the University of Tulsa where he played college football from 1943 to 1945.{{cite news|title=Hardin-Simmons Star Joins Tulsa Gridmen|newspaper=Lubbock Morning Avalanche|date=October 7, 1943|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4357285/hardin_simmons_star_joins_tulsa_gridmen/}} He helped lead Tulsa to a 6-0-1 record, a #15 ranking, and an invitation to play in the 1944 Sugar Bowl.{{cite news|title=Georgia Tech Smashes Tulsa|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=January 2, 1944|page=4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4357445/georgia_tech_smashes_tulsa/}} In 1945, he helped lead the team to the 1945 Orange Bowl where Wilson had a 90-yard kickoff return in a 26-12 victory over Georgia Tech.{{cite news|title=Tulsa Takes Orange Bowl Game, 26-12|newspaper=Valley Morning Star|date=January 2, 1945|page=5|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4357415/tulsa_takes_orange_bowl_game_2612/}} And in 1946, he led Tulsa to an 8-2 record and scored the team's only touchdown in a loss to Georgia in the 1946 Oil Bowl.{{cite news|title=Georgia Thumps Tulsa, 20 to 6|newspaper=Lubbock Morning Avalanche|date=January 2, 1946|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4357388/georgia_thumps_tulsa_20_to_6/}} Wilson was believed to be the first player to play in four consecutive bowl games.{{cite news|title=Camp Wilson, Tulsa Back, To Play in Fourth Bowl|author=Hal Sayles|newspaper=Abilene Reporter-News|date=December 6, 1945|page=3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4358270/camp_wilson_tulsa_back_to_play_in/}}
Professional football
In January 1946, days after his appearance in the 1946 Oil Bowl, Wilson signed a contract to play professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions.{{cite news|title=Camp Wilson Is Signed By the Detroit Lions|date=January 16, 1946|page=6|newspaper=Joplin (MO) Globe|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4357596/camp_wilson_is_signed_by_the_detroit/}} He played four years as a fullback for the Lions from 1946 to 1949 and was the Lions' leading rusher for three consecutive years from 1946 to 1948. His best season was 1948 when he rushed for 612 yards on 157 carries.{{cite web|title=Camp Wilson|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=Pro-Football-Reference.com|accessdate=February 18, 2016|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WilsCa20.htm}}
In April 1950, the Lions traded Wilson to the New York Bulldogs in exchange for Bobby Layne.{{cite news|title=Bobby Layne Is Traded To Lions For Camp Wilson|newspaper=Cumberland Sunday Times|date=April 9, 1950|page=25|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4358024/bobby_layne_is_traded_to_lions_for_camp/}}{{cite news|title=Lions Swap Wilson for Layne|author=Bob Latshaw|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|date=April 9, 1950|page=51|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4358070/lions_swap_wilson_for_layne/}} After the trade, Wilson retired from football, declining to move to New York and lose his regular job with a local steel company.{{cite news|title=Layne-for-Wilson Trade Snagged|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=April 17, 1950|page=22|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4358106/layne_for_wilson_trade_snagged/}} Layne signed with the Lions in July 1950,{{cite news|title=Bobby Layne signs with Detroit team|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=July 16, 1950|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4358148/bobby_layne_signs/}} and he led the Lions to three NFL championships.{{cite news|title=Bobby Layne|publisher=Pro Football Hall of Fame|accessdate=February 18, 2016|url=http://www.profootballhof.com/players/bobby-layne/}}
Later years
After retiring as a player, Wilson worked as a personnel director at a steel plant and coached football at Detroit Catholic High School. He later worked at officiating NFL games and as a supervisor at the Center Gym at Fort Bliss. He and his wife, Margaret, had three children.{{cite news|title=Camp Wilson Stays Close to His Favorite Sport|newspaper=El Paso Herald-Post|date=September 29, 1966|page=D3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/4357743/camp_wilson_stays_close_to_his_favorite/}}