DeSales University Athletics

Jerry Wilkinson ’72 was a four-year player on the very first men’s basketball teams at DeSales University and also played one year as the starting goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team in 1971.

He was a team Co-MVP and co-captain as a senior on the basketball team.  Wilkinson led the team in rebounding in 1971-72 and helped the Bulldogs record its first .500 or better season with a final record of 8-8.  Wilkinson was also an intramural standout and served as the President of Intramurals in 1971-72.

He graduated from DeSales in 1972 with a bachelor of arts in economics and upon graduation entered the US Navy Aviation Office Candidate School in July of 1972.  He commissioned an Ensign USNR in November, 1972 and completed flight training and was designated a Naval Flight Officer (Radar Intercept Officer) in April, 1973.

Wilkinson flew as an F-4J RIO stationed at NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA until January 1977 after two six-month deployments to the Mediterranean Sea upon the USS Saratoga.  Upon release from active duty, he was affiliated with the Naval Air Reserve flying the P-3 Orion, an anti-submarine aircraft.  Wilkinson completed 30-years of service in July, 2002, retiring as a Captain.

Wilkinson also worked with Penn Fluid Systems Technologies, a distributor and fabricator of fluid system components from March, 1977 to June, 2013, during which he held various positions including sales representative, sales supervisor, and director of operations.  He retired in June, 2013.

He is married to wife Susan for 38 years and they have three children, Katie ’98, John, and Tim ’02.