Wilson and his brother Will expanded JWA, the company formed by their father, Jim Wilson Jr., who died in 2006.the $300 million Riverchase Galleria, billed as the largest shopping center in the Southeast, openedJWA also developed the Mall of Louisiana in Baton Rouge; EastChase in Montgomery; and Redstone Gateway business park in Huntsville.
Wilson also served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama system where he was Chair of the Athletics Committee, and as President of the University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital Authority. “We all benefitted from Jim’s strong leadership, savvy business acumen, and relentless passion for the University of Alabama System.”
After graduating from college in 1985, Wilson moved to New York City where he worked in commercial real estate at Manufacturers Hanover and met his wife, Susie Forst. The couple married in 1987, in Rye, New York.“Jim was a dynamic leader and an impactful philanthropist. He used his time and resources to make life better for so many,” a company statement read.