If someone asked, “What would you do for your 100th birthday?” the first answer probably wouldn’t be, “Head into work.” Charles Wilson is different. On June 16, Father’s Day, he will officially turn 100, but on Friday the 14, this centenarian will put on his best suit, and most likely his WWII commemorative baseball cap, and walk up the steps and into the lobby of Ernest Packaging Solutions in Commerce, CA, for the unbelievable, awe-inspiring, umpteenth time.
He’s been doing the very same thing—at 9 a.m. sharp—for the past 78 years.
That’s not the only thing he’s been doing with his century on Earth. He did 100 pushups a day until he was 98 years old. He practiced law, on top of being Chairman and CEO of his company, until he was 99. He’s been consistently active in national politics, sat on the Cedar Sinai board of governors, and been a chairperson for the nonprofit JVS SoCal. But make no mistake, this unbelievable success and unparalleled drive did not come easy for Charles Wilson. Nor did it come out of the blue. There’s one very simple reason his life continues to exemplify the American rags-to-riches dream:
A woman named Minnie Wilson.
Charles’ incredible work ethic was instilled in him and his brother Ernest (the company’s namesake) by their mother, Minnie. During the Great Depression, she lost her husband and their home but still managed to raise her two boys on literally next to nothing. Even so, Minnie often instilled in both brothers that there was always someone less fortunate than them. So even when she couldn’t give the boys a little spare change to go to the movies, she always had a dime for a stranger.
She raised them right and when it came time to serve their country, both boys answered the call. Ernest went into the Army Air Corps (now the Air Force) and Charles to the Army infantry. Charles still remembers this harrowing time with his signature sense of humor, “When people are shooting at you, you can dig a foxhole damn quickly.” During his tour of duty, Charles’ platoon was met with heavy artillery fire, and he was injured. Disregarding his own injuries, he brought six wounded men back to the command post to safety. For his valor, he received both a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star, two of the highest honors the military can bestow.
The next chapter of his story began when Charles returned home to Los Angeles. His brother met him at Union Station with a hug and an announcement, “We’re in business!” Total employees: two. The brothers started their humble new venture out of a one-car garage and slowly but steadily grew it over the years. While making deliveries and helping Ernie with the business, Charles also attended USC law school and passed the bar in 1950 at 26 years old. At that time, there were fewer than 27,000 attorneys practicing in the whole state of California. Throughout his young life, he also found time to write poetry, spend quality time with his mother and brother, and always maintain an attitude where he put other people first. Charles says it best, “Give more to others than to yourself. Be humble and you will get back tenfold.”
In 1954, he met the love of his life, Betty Seagle, and proudly became known as “Mr. Betty.” They raised a girl and a boy, Minda and Tim, in Los Angeles, CA. In fact, his son, Tim, has worked alongside his father since the early 90s and currently serves as president of the company. Today, Charles is a proud and dedicated grandfather to four. When asked about work, the subject will always turn back to family, “We wanted to have a family business, and we wanted everybody who worked for us to be a part of that family,” Wilson says. “If you enjoy the people you work with, you feel we’re all in this together and everybody is important in the business. We will work together and try to get you to your best.”
Due to an unparalleled drive and true love of what he does, Chairman and CEO Charles Wilson has helped Ernest Packaging thrive. This once-small business with a single location in LA is now in 15 cities nationwide with over 600 employees, including a division within blocks of where he and his brother were born in Salt Lake City. If asked, Charles will downplay his role and argue the true reason for success is that he surrounds himself with people who are smarter than him. It’s this sense of humility and kindness—still at 100 years young—that makes him a pillar of the community and a beloved presence at work. Within the walls at Ernest, he’s known for his words of wisdom. “When you can help someone, that’s the best thing in the world.” And a most fitting phrase, “Every day is a gift,” which is actually printed on the wall at headquarters.
While the story of Charles began with both poverty and tragedy, it continues today as a true triumph. And the things he’s seen in his lifetime are almost unfathomable.From horses delivering ice to the invention of sliced bread to the discovery of penicillin to televisions in every home—even humankind’s first walk on the moon—he’s been there for it all. And he’s proof positive that if you work hard and put others before yourself, what you get in return is absolutely amazing.
On June 14, all the friends, family and loved ones are going to bring gifts, good wishes and more hugs than he can handle. But Charles Wilson will be the one giving the greatest present of all: being an inspiration to all of those lucky enough to know him.
———
About Ernest
Ernest is a family-owned packaging solutions company that creates wonderful, unconventional experiences for our clients. It’s been that way since 1946, and it still stands to this day. We don’t just deliver boxes, bubble wrap and the occasional bear claw. We help our clients blaze new trails by offering end-to-end business solutions to get their product safely and cost-effectively to their customers.
Whether it’s a packaging, supply chain or process automation problem, there’s no challenge too big or small for us to tackle. How? We achieve the impossible by saying no to the status quo, focusing on bringing smiles to faces and making the world a little more Ernest.
Learn more about our solutions at: https://www.ernestpackaging.com
For more information, interviews, or inquiries, please contact:
Kristin Vega, Marketing Communications Manager
323.923.3223
