Toronto, Ontario -- Collision Repair Instructor Jeff Wilson and his wife, Amber Wilson, have died in the Kerrville, Texas floods. Their 12-year-old son, Shiloh, is still missing. The family were camping at the HTR RV park while in Kerrville for a rodeo. Shiloh, who was nicknamed “Stingray,” is the 2024 Rookie Junior World Champion in saddle bronc riding.
Wilson was an auto body skills teacher for 30 years in the Humble Independent School District where he created Kingwood Park High School’s auto body program in 2007, leading its career and technical education department. In addition to holding teaching certificates in manufacturing technology, collision and refinishing technology, cooperative learning and technology education, Wilson was involved with the Collision Repair Education Foundation and the Collision Industry Conference.
John Dustin Ledford, Wilson’s brother-in-law, posted on Facebook on July 6 that Wilson had passed, thanking people for the outpouring of prayer, calls and messages. HISD Chief Communications Officer Jamie Mount confirmed via email on July 8 that Amber and Shiloh are still missing. Since then, Amber’s body and Shiloh’s rodeo gear have been recovered.
The Kingwood community gathered for a prayer vigil dedicated to Wilson on July 6, where more than 200 people were in attendance. James Pham, Wilson’s former student and staff writer for Kingwood Park’s student newspaper, KP Times, wrote a tribute. “Mr. Wilson does this thing where he kind of pokes fun at you and tries to make you uncomfortable. At first, it seems like he’s just making fun of you but he does it out of love,” Pham wrote. “I can say firmly that I have [become] a stronger person after his course and my skin grew thicker….I’m grateful for that skill that he has taught me.”
Daniel Sullivan, owner of Sullivan’s Truck, Auto & Collision Repair, said that “Jeff was a scrapper; he wouldn’t settle for mediocrity.” Wilson worked ASE and with I-CAR, and was an I-CAR instructor since 2011. According to I-CAR, 98 percent of Wilson’s students have earned Platinum ProLevel 1 status. A LinkedIn post shared by I-CAR on July 9 grieving the loss of Wilson described him as a “great educator, volunteer and friend.”
Wes Solomon, principal of Kingwood Park, knew Wilson for more than 25 years, telling the KP Times that Wilson leaves a legacy in the school, district and community. “That legacy was built on relationships, that legacy was built on the relationship and trust he made with his kids,” said Solomon.
Colleague Adan Ibarra remembers Wilson in a social media post, writing, “He was always at the heart of any discussion about education, never holding back his honest opinions, and that’s something we loved about him - what you saw was what you got.” Describing Wilson as a “cowboy,” Ibarra says that Wilson’s legacy will never die. “Jeff was tough as an ox with a heart of gold, a man of his word whose unwavering morals made the world a better place. Amber and Shiloh were his everything; his eyes lit up with pride when he spoke of Shiloh’s achievements as a third-generation rodeo rider.”
The Wilson-Ledford Family Memorial fundraiser has currently raised $51,308 of its $50,000 goal. The funds will be used to honour the Wilson family and bring them home to their loved ones.
