TEXTILES.ORG
Frederick Eugene “Fred” Wilson Jr., Wilson College of Textiles alumnus and owner and chairman of Syntha Group, passed away Oct. 25, 2026, at the age of 88.
A native of High Point, N.C., Wilson maintained a lifelong connection to his hometown and the university that helped shape his career. His generosity toward North Carolina State University began with a $25 gift in 1995 and eventually grew into one of the most significant philanthropic commitments in the university’s history, leading to the honoring of the family’s legacy in the Wilson College of Textiles name in 2018.
The Wilson family legacy at NC State spans four generations. It began with Wilson’s father, who taught himself textile chemistry at night with help from an instructor at NC State’s then School of Textiles who answered his letters whenever he had a question. Today, Wilson’s daughter, Cres, serves on the North Carolina Textile Foundation Board of Directors and the Wolfpack Club Board of Directors, as well as vice chairman and chief strategy officer at Syntha Group alongside her brother, Rick, who leads the company as CEO.
The family tradition carried into a fourth generation when Rick’s son, Frederick “Rede” Eugene Wilson IV, earned his degree in polymer and color chemistry — the modern counterpart to his grandfather’s major. In 2024, Cres’ stepson, Michael Calabrese, earned his degree in fashion and textile management, becoming the fifth member of the family to graduate from the college.
“Fred Wilson was one of the kindest, most caring and generous people anyone could hope to know,” says David Hinks, Prakash Chand Kochhar Dean of the Wilson College of Textiles. “What a full and deeply meaningful life he led! He was a philanthropist in the truest sense of the word. He has made me a better man, and I’m certain that a great many people feel the same way.”
Wilson’s obituary is available here.