Eugene Wilson, Vice President for Business Affairs, was elected the 10th president and served on an interim basis while the CU Board of Regents searched for a replacement for Joseph Smiley.

Wilson was regarded as “Old CU,” having served on the faculty since 1943. He also held a variety of administrative positions ranging from director of libraries to vice president to secretary of the Board of Regents. Wilson received the Robert L. Stearns Award in 1965 for outstanding service to the university.

After a term of only three months, Wilson stepped down as president of the University of Colorado, but he continued to serve the university, future presidents, the community and the state’s educational system until his death in 1986.