The measure of a person's greatness is in the core values that drive their lives and in the contributions that they make while they are alive.  Joe Wilson was one of the great leaders of his time.  He assembled a management team that largely shared his values and beliefs.  His principled and inspiring style was to lead by example and to be available and visible to everyone.

For those who began their careers at Xerox in the 50's and 60's while he was the head of the Company, there was a special relationship that developed with Joe Wilson that was built on trust and confidence. We all had trust in his abilities to successfully lead the company and confidence that he valued all of us as people.   This relationship was so compelling that many feel the same about him today after 40 or more years.  It was a time when we didn't have to hear our leadership tell us about how we were "people oriented" or need to have a "customer focus".... that was just the way it was.  Do you remember this?  This was a different time!

Here is a letter from Joe Wilson that conveyed that special relationship:

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