Bob Wilkinson
Bruin Football Record-Setter Bob Wilkinson Passes Away
September 15, 2016 | Football
Wilkinson Set Numerous Receiving Records at UCLA
The Bruin family was saddened to learn of the passing of Robert Raymond Wilkinson, 88, from complications of Parkinson's Disease on September 12, 2016. He had resided in Scottsdale, Ariz. since 1993. Wilkinson was a record-setting standout on the UCLA football team, earning letters in 1948-50.
Born October 8, 1927 in Los Angeles, Calif. to Wilfred and Violet (Farrants) Wilkinson, Bob was a first-team All-Pacific Coast performer at end in the 1949 and 1950 seasons at UCLA. Playing for Coach Red Sanders, he led the team in scoring in 1949 with 60 points after catching 10 touchdown passes, a total which surpassed the previous NCAA record of eight and stood as a school record at UCLA for over 40 years.
In all, he shattered or tied nine Pacific Coast Conference and UCLA receiving records, including the conference records for most TD receptions in conference games during a season (8) and most pass receiving yards in a season. Among his list of school records were most receptions in a season (27 in 1949), most receiving yards in a season (556 in 1949), most touchdown catches in a season (10, in 1949), most touchdown catches in a game (3, vs. Washington in 1949). He finished his Bruin career with 48 catches for 841 yards.
Wilkinson was drafted by the New York Giants and played professionally in the NFL for two seasons, catching 17 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns. He then moved on from football and embarked on a successful career in the furniture industry.
Wilkinson was a latecomer to football, having switched from basketball in 1947 after graduating from Loyola High school and then completing a tour with the US Merchant Marines. The Navy granted him an honorable discharge in 1955. He was honored as a member of the UCLA Golden Anniversary team in 1980.
Following football, Wilkinson worked as a furniture wholesaler in Los Angeles, moving his family north to Los Altos in 1960 to work in his firm's San Francisco office. He opened his own shop in 1968 and worked there until his retirement in 1993. After living in Corte Madera, CA for more than 20 years, he moved to Scottsdale, Ariz. and became a scratch golfer. He loved traveling the world with his wife Diana, and was an active athlete well into his 70s, playing tennis, skiing and golf competitively. Growing up on Southern California beaches, he was a champion water skier and also enjoyed beach volleyball.
Wilkinson is survived by his wife of 46 years, Diana (Molinari) Wilkinson of Scottsdale, and five children from his first marriage: Robin Cunningham of Santa Cruz, CA, Robert Wilkinson of Carmichael, CA, Theresa Carey (Kent) of Palo Alto, CA, Dana Boyd (Doug) of Seattle, WA, and Jennifer Jensen (Fred) of El Dorado Hills, CA. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Dustin Cunningham, Colleen Carey, Kate Carey, Molly Boyd, Mitchell Jensen, Emily Boyd, Heather Jensen and Monica Wilkinson. Bob is also survived by his former wife, Margaret (Norris) Wilkinson of Santa Cruz, CA, and many friends of long standing.
A celebration of his life is pending. Donations may be made in his memory to the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center (giveto.ucla.edu) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation (michaeljfox.org).
Born October 8, 1927 in Los Angeles, Calif. to Wilfred and Violet (Farrants) Wilkinson, Bob was a first-team All-Pacific Coast performer at end in the 1949 and 1950 seasons at UCLA. Playing for Coach Red Sanders, he led the team in scoring in 1949 with 60 points after catching 10 touchdown passes, a total which surpassed the previous NCAA record of eight and stood as a school record at UCLA for over 40 years.
In all, he shattered or tied nine Pacific Coast Conference and UCLA receiving records, including the conference records for most TD receptions in conference games during a season (8) and most pass receiving yards in a season. Among his list of school records were most receptions in a season (27 in 1949), most receiving yards in a season (556 in 1949), most touchdown catches in a season (10, in 1949), most touchdown catches in a game (3, vs. Washington in 1949). He finished his Bruin career with 48 catches for 841 yards.
Wilkinson was drafted by the New York Giants and played professionally in the NFL for two seasons, catching 17 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns. He then moved on from football and embarked on a successful career in the furniture industry.
Wilkinson was a latecomer to football, having switched from basketball in 1947 after graduating from Loyola High school and then completing a tour with the US Merchant Marines. The Navy granted him an honorable discharge in 1955. He was honored as a member of the UCLA Golden Anniversary team in 1980.
Following football, Wilkinson worked as a furniture wholesaler in Los Angeles, moving his family north to Los Altos in 1960 to work in his firm's San Francisco office. He opened his own shop in 1968 and worked there until his retirement in 1993. After living in Corte Madera, CA for more than 20 years, he moved to Scottsdale, Ariz. and became a scratch golfer. He loved traveling the world with his wife Diana, and was an active athlete well into his 70s, playing tennis, skiing and golf competitively. Growing up on Southern California beaches, he was a champion water skier and also enjoyed beach volleyball.
Wilkinson is survived by his wife of 46 years, Diana (Molinari) Wilkinson of Scottsdale, and five children from his first marriage: Robin Cunningham of Santa Cruz, CA, Robert Wilkinson of Carmichael, CA, Theresa Carey (Kent) of Palo Alto, CA, Dana Boyd (Doug) of Seattle, WA, and Jennifer Jensen (Fred) of El Dorado Hills, CA. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Dustin Cunningham, Colleen Carey, Kate Carey, Molly Boyd, Mitchell Jensen, Emily Boyd, Heather Jensen and Monica Wilkinson. Bob is also survived by his former wife, Margaret (Norris) Wilkinson of Santa Cruz, CA, and many friends of long standing.
A celebration of his life is pending. Donations may be made in his memory to the UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center (giveto.ucla.edu) or the Michael J. Fox Foundation (michaeljfox.org).