Gene Wilcoxson

In 1924, Harold Eugene “Gene” Wilcoxson was born in Scott City, Kansas. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946. After his service, Gene attended Pueblo Junior College, followed by the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree.

For two years, Gene was a salesman for Vidmar-Mathis Motor Co. In November 1951, he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War, and when he returned, Gene went to work as the new car sales manager for W.A. Wills Ford. He then was a partner in Wills- Wilcoxson Pontiac in Council Bluffs, IA.

In 1956, he partnered in Silver State Cadillac, Colorado Springs, and from 1961-1967, he was a partner at W.A. Wills Buick-Cadillac. From 1967 on, Gene was the owner and president of Wilcoxson Buick-Cadillac-GMC Truck in Pueblo.

In the early 1980s, Gene helped found — and was very active with — the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation. He was instrumental in the effort to bring three weaker economic development groups together, uniting them as one cohesive entity called PEDCo. He and other business leaders formed the entity to diversify and save Pueblo’s economy after cutbacks at the CF&I Steel Corp.

He served as a liaison between Pueblo’s business community and Fort Carson commanders to pave the way for Pueblo businesses to more easily do business with the
U.S. Army’s Fort Carson post near Colorado Springs.

Gene served as past president and board member of the Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce and was honored by the Chamber as 2005 Citizen of the Year. He was president of Colorado Automobile Dealers Association in 1976 and was Colorado’s nominee for the 1977 TIME Magazine Quality Dealer award.

He passed away in 2009. Gene was described as a true gentleman who was continuously helpful in any way to promote his hometown.