Gilbert (Whip) aka Larry Wilson a name known throughout the Camden County Community as a Camden City Councilperson and a positive community influence.

Whip a 1965 Graduate of Camden High has lived his life with a passion for giving to the youth of Camden City. The Camden High School football and basketball teams can always depend on Whip for support. Councilperson Wilson has always been a champion for the Camden High cause. On many occasions the Camden High School Band has also received his support in fundraising efforts through the years as they have not only traveled around the country but also to London, England.

Whip joined the U.S. Air Force after graduating from Camden High, becoming an Air Policeman. His tours of duty took him to Lackland, Texas, Amarillo, Texas, Thailand, Little Rock, Arkansas and Vietnam. Prior to being deployed to Vietnam Whip, along with 500 other Air Policemen from various Air Force bases, was sent to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii for Air Force Ranger Training. As an Air Force Ranger he was part of the Combat Security Force in Vietnam. While in Vietnam Whip was part of a six man ambush team, which went out at night. Whip later became leader of that team.

Upon returning to the United States Whip was assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base. While there he was notified by his mother that there was an upcoming Camden City Police Examination. In October of 1968 Whip came home on weekend leave and took the test for Camden Police Officer. He was notified to joined the police department in November of 1968 however he was still in the Air Force. Whip was discharged for the Air Force January 1969.

On March 17, 1969 Whip was sworn in as a Camden Police Officer. He would never forget this date because it was his 22nd birthday. Whip started his career in patrol division working the swing shifts. Later he worked straight night work Task Force shift, a one man car in North Camden, which he enjoyed to the ut most. He loved the people of North Camden.

Whip's next assignment was the Vice Squad where he mainly executed search warrants and undercover operations. Later he became the Commander of the unit, which had a very high conviction rate and no incidents of police corruption or police brutality. Even until this day police officers and residents alike state that was the best vice squad that served the citizens of Camden.

Whip was transferred to Community Policing and his first assignment was Mischief Night 1992, where the community and the police department worked together to not to have a repeat of the 133 fires that took place in 1991. Whip and a delegation from Camden went to Detroit to see what they were doing to curb the violence that was taking place on something that was know as Devil's Night where fires were happening in Detroit.

The Arson Task Force under the leadership of Whip put together a program for Camden. This program called for volunteers to walk the streets on Mischief Night. Also students were involved doing poster contest, essays and speech contest with an anti-arson message. The above actions proved to be successful because there were about 17 fires on Mischief Night 92, which the Camden Fire Department stated were the normal type fires that would happen on any night. There has been no such issues? concerning Mischief Night from that point on. The Anti-Arson Task force changed the name from Mischief Night to Halloween Eve.

While in Community Policing Whip was also the supervisor for the PAL program, DARE, Bicycle Patrol, Recruitment and Network 3

Whip retired form the Camden Police Department in 1995 as a Lieutenant and received a grand send off at the Cherry Hill Hilton with an attendance of over five hundred people. The retirement banquet became a ?Roast? which Whip was quite amused by. Also at that that event Coach Clarence Turner announced that Whip was going to become one of his assistant basketball coaches, which was an honor for Whip to work for a person he had admired for so many years.

In 1997 residents asked Whip to run for City Council, which he was reluctant to do but conceded to the will of the people that asked him. He was successful as a first time candidate for public office, May 1997. Whip?s wife Martha Class of '70 was a successful Camden School Board Candidate April 1997 making the Wilsons the only husband and wife team in the State of New Jersey to win elective offices in the same City. This feat was repeated in 2005.

Whip ran unsuccessfully for Mayor in 2001 but returned to City Council in 2005 and was reelected to City Council in November 2009 being the top vote getter of all City Council Candidates. Whip was recently honored by The Camden Police Brotherhood for Unity and Progress by naming the Annual Turkey Bowl Trophy after him. This trophy is given to the winner of the Camden High Woodrow Wilson football game. Whip started referring to this game as the Turkey Bowl back in 1992. Now the trophy is know as the Whip Wilson Turkey Bowl Trophy, which remains at the winning school until the next Turkey Bowl is played.

He was inducted into the Camden High Hall of Fame in 1997 and that same year received the Castle Award. He was very honored and humbled to receive those awards. Also this year was a Co-Grand Marshall for the Homecoming Parade. Whip was also humbled to be part of the Passing of the Torch Ceremony held during the Mega Reunion Weekend. Whip stated it was an honor being asked by the Alumni Committee to present.

Whip has served Camden his entire adult life and has raised money for Camden High School?s students for various causes. Camden High students are fortunate to have his support every year.

Whip has resided at the same address most of his life, he is married to Martha, has six children seven grand children and one great-grand child.

Camden High is very proud to have him as an honorable son.

-Joyce Miller - '72