The funeral for retired Lt. Col. Adna G. Wilde Jr., former president, executive director, treasurer and parliamentarian for the American Numismatic Association, will be held at 9 a.m. EST Jan. 26 at Arlington National Cemetery. The ANA will hold a separate memorial service the same day at 10 a.m. MST at its headquarters in Colorado Springs.
Wilde was born in 1920, served in the U.S. Army 10th Mountain Division in World War II, and was wounded during battle in Italy. He served as an officer in the Army until 1968, when he came to the ANA as its executive director. A bronze plaque in his honor will be placed at the foot of the flag stand at ANA headquarters during the memorial ceremony.
Memorial donations may be made to the Adna G. Wilde Jr. Summer Seminar Scholarship Fund, established as a tribute to Wilde’s numerous contributions to numismatic education. Scholarships from this newly created fund will be awarded based on a combination of merit and financial need.
Wilde’s vision and wisdom were instrumental in establishing Summer Seminar. In his first year as executive director, he and Governor Ed Rochette were instructors for the inaugural event, which attracted 17 students for one week of immersive numismatic study. In 2008, the ANA celebrated Summer Seminar’s 40th year; the event has since expanded to two weeks with as many as 400 participants.
Donations may be mailed to: American Numismatic Association, Adna G. Wilde Jr. Summer Seminar Scholarship Fund, 818 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903.
