Wheelice Wilson Jr., known to friends as “Mr. Coppell” because of his lifelong efforts to promote theater and history in his hometown, died Feb. 2. He was 74.
Wilson, nicknamed Pete, taught at Coppell High School for 36 years and launched the drama department there. He also helped start Theatre Coppell, a community theatre group he led since 1987.
The group first performed at the high school, but eventually the city allowed the group to use an old fire station. The group now performs in a “black box” theater named the Wheelice Wilson, Jr. Theatre, part of the $22 million city-owned Coppell Arts Center. Wilson is credited with being a leading force pushing for the elegant city arts complex in the northwest Dallas County bedroom community.
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In a statement posted on Coppell ISD’s website, Superintendent Brad Hunt said Wilson’s work with students, especially, was profound.
“He could take talented kids and make them shine brighter and find the more shy kids and turn them into a star,” he said.
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According to family lore, his unusual first name came about because when his grandfather was born around 1901, the baby was named after the doctor, whose last name was Wheelice.
W. H. Wilson Elementary School is named after Wilson’s father, whose first name was also Wheelice but who also went by the nickname Pete.
In 1965, Wilson was a member of Coppell High’s first graduating class. He was selected as the first Mr. Coppell High School and was also the high school’s first valedictorian.
After college, he decided to go into teaching. At first, his students performed in a typical school proscenium theater, but Wilson convinced the school district to build a black box theater.
It wasn’t unusual for Wilson to have two plays going on in town at the same time – one at the high school and a second at the old fire station.
Three years ago, the school district honored him as a distinguished alumnus.
History buff
His love of Coppell’s history began in high school when he started researching his hometown’s past, his sister Janis Arthur said. He served as an officer in the Coppell Historical Society. He helped preserve highly regarded Old Town Coppell and was a key player in the creation of Heritage Park.
“He was literally a walking encyclopedia of all things Coppell and Coppell ISD,” the school district noted in its announcement of his passing.
When the city decided to name the new black box theater after him, he didn’t tell his sister, she recalled.
“He was very humble,” she said.
He spent his final days in the hospital working on his next play.
“He had me bring him his script,” she recalled. “He was on his laptop in his hospital bed. He died the way he wanted,” she added. “Directing a play.”
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Survivors include his sister Janis and brother William. A memorial service is planned for March 5 at 3 p.m. at the theater bearing his name.
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Wheelice (Pete)’Wilson Jr. left his mark on Coppell. Now a theater is named after him. He died Feb. 2, 2022. - The Dallas Morning News
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