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Devoted Brother, Beloved Businessman
Shawnee, Oklahoma – Nathaniel Wilson Baptist III, known as “Wilson,” to family, friends, and nearly everyone who knew him, passed away on July 5, 2025, after complications from a stroke. He was 85.
Wilson was born into a legacy of entrepreneurship and community service. The son of Buddy Baptist and grandson of Nathaniel Wilson Baptist, Wilson carried forward a family business that began with a horse and buggy and a dream.
His grandfather, a traveling salesman who famously borrowed against his life insurance to start a business, laid the groundwork for what would become Baptist Incorporated. It began as Baptist Hardware and evolved under Wilson’s father into a dedicated sporting goods store. It was later expanded by Wilson into a regional enterprise. Under his leadership, Baptist Inc. became known throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and parts of Arkansas as a trusted supplier of athletic equipment for schools—helmets, bats, lettermen jackets, and more—delivered with warmth by a team of salesmen Wilson considered family.
Though steeped in business, Wilson’s life was marked just as deeply by his humility and integrity. “He was honest as the day is long,” his sister recalled. “And kind. And considerate.” Those traits weren’t just reserved for family—they extended to his employees, customers, and lifelong friends.
One of Wilson’s proudest personal moments came in Alaska, where he shot a massive brown bear during a hunting expedition in Kodiak. The bear made the exclusive Boone and Crocket list. It was later named “Buddy” by local schoolchildren—a touching nod to his father—and now stands in the Pottawatomie Museum in Shawnee.
Born and raised in Shawnee, Wilson graduated from Shawnee High School and later attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was a proud member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He studied accounting and served his country as a Captain in the US Air Force for four years, including time stationed in Michigan, and Alaska. Those years in the north were some of the happiest of his life, spent hunting and building friendships that lasted a lifetime.
He was not just a businessman —Wilson was a deeply loyal brother and friend. Though his relationship with his sister, Carolyn, was rocky in childhood (“we were mortal enemies,” she says with a smile), it softened over time. During her senior year of high school, he transformed into her fierce protector. Over time, they became inseparable.
Wilson leaves behind three siblings: Carolyn, Ann, and Richard. The youngest, Richard, who was born 12 years after Wilson joined him in a separate sporting goods business, the Athletic Village. The family also includes beloved nieces and nephews. Carolyn's sons Michael and Benton Maples, Richard's sons Brett and Blake Baptist and Ann's daughter Wendy.
Wilson was preceded in death by his parents N.W. Baptist, Jr. and Jane von Storch Baptist. He leaves a wide circle of devoted friends, including his lifelong compatriots Bill Ford and Dick Deem who he met in kindergarten. Dick introduced him to his favorite treat, "The Dilly Bar". He loved to eat at Charleston's and took countless people there to dine. He had many loyal employees who stood by him and visited often during his illness. To them, he was more than a boss—he was family.
Wilson Baptist embodied quiet strength, generosity, and enduring love. His legacy is etched not only in the storefronts and schoolyards of the region but in the hearts of all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held August 9th at 2:00 P.M. at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church 501 North Broadway, Shawnee, Oklahoma 74801 under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.
Wilson was a faithful Oklahoma Sooner fan. So, in lieu of flowers the family request donations to the University of Oklahoma Foundation in memory of Wilson's lifelong belief in teamwork.
Memorial contributions may be made to the OU Foundation in memory of N.W. “Wilson” Baptist III. Please make checks payable to the OU Foundation and note “In Memory of N.W. Baptist III” in the memo line. Donations may be mailed to: The Sooner Club, 1185 Asp Avenue, Room 150, Norman, OK 73019.
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