Following World War I, Frank A. Miller of the Mission Inn honored veterans who had served in the war and had a connection to the Inn. On February 1, 1919, Miller entertained many of those veterans in the refectory at the Mission Inn with a banquet and a program of toasts and recollections of the soldiers’ experiences. Seventy-five people attended the banquet, including the Miller family and the guests, and were seated at tables decorated with the national colors. Musical selections entertained the guests during dinner. Fifteen veterans were honored in a “Heroes of the Mission Inn Banner” displayed at the Inn. One of these heroes was Ormonde Wilson, a gentleman of African American descent.
Ormonde Reeves Wilson was born on March 11, 1893, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. His father was G. H. Wilson. Nothing more is known of his early life. By 1915, Ormonde was living in the Eastside of Riverside at 443 E. Tenth Street and was listed as an auto operator or a chauffeur. Also employed at the Mission Inn, he worked as a night watchman and was a popular tenor soloist in the Music Room. One night, while on duty as a watchman for the Inn, his motorcycle was stolen but was quickly recovered by the police after they noticed a license plate that had been sloppily changed from P-936 to B-986.
Ormonde had the privilege of singing a solo at the special Memorial Service held in the Cloister Music Room at the Mission Inn for the great educator, Booker T. Washington. Frank Miller planned the tribute, invited the community to honor Washington, and held the service on the evening of Washington’s funeral, which was held at Tuskegee Institute. Wilson sang “Pass It On” in what an attendee stated was a sweet tenor enjoyed by all.
During World War I, Ormonde Wilson joined the United States Army and was sent to Fort Lewis, Washington, for training. He was a member of the 812th Pioneer Infantry, a unit primarily composed of African Americans. They were trained to clear and construct roads and bridges. Because of their dangerous positions, they were also trained in infantry tactics and combat. Ormonde was unable to attend the banquet sponsored by Frank Miller honoring World War I heroes, but Captain John Allen spoke on his behalf…