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Longtime Tampa activist, radio host Jetie Wilds Jr. dies

 
Jetie Wilds Jr.
Jetie Wilds Jr.
Published Sept. 22, 2014

TAMPA— Jetie B. Wilds Jr. spoke with a deliberate tone when he hosted his public affairs show Citizen's Report on WTMP-AM 1150. His words didn't rise with emotion, but that belied how much he cared about Tampa and particularly the African-American community.

Mr. Wilds, a community activist, columnist, political candidate and former talk show host who welcomed elected officials and dignitaries to his Saturday morning show for years, died Sunday. He was 74.

"I think he was truly one of the people's servants," said James Ransom, a close friend. "He was not focused on being a self-serving person. A lot of that came from how he was raised — he had a lot of brothers and sisters and he was raised to be a caring person. He was a tough guy, a shrewd guy, but he had such great finesse, a warmth."

Although Citizen's Report was discontinued because of a format change in 2011, Mr. Wilds returned to the air this year when the station switched back to an urban format. Mr. Wilds also wrote for Ybor City's trilingual newspaper La Gaceta, served on the board of the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs and helped bring together male leaders in the African-American community for a breakfast at the Open Cafe in East Tampa that became a formal gathering.

Mr. Wilds' was one of 12 children born to Jetie B. Wilds Sr. and Minnie Lee Wilds. His interest in advancing the black community started in the civil rights era. While attending Atlanta's Morehouse College, he would participate in sit-ins and other events. At the time the historic March on Washington in 1963, he was teaching middle school math in Hillsborough County.

"I figured I'd better eat, so I stayed since I thought, 'I know those guys. I know how it's going to work. I've been through that,' " he told the Times last year. "If I had known what it became, I would've wanted to be there. But I couldn't."

He was afraid to take time off, he said, scared he'd lose his job.

Mr. Wilds' involvement in the Tampa community included attempts at political office. He ran for a Tampa City Council seat in 1998, losing to Betty Wiggins. He would also later serve as campaign manager for candidate Frank Sanchez in the 2003 Tampa mayoral election, with Pam Iorio ultimately winning.

Mr. Wilds had strong relationships across Tampa, not just the black community. Ransom said he often had breakfast with a group of Italian men, including business owner Joe Capitano.

"They were his friends," Ransom said. "He was part of ... a group that's enshrined in the West Tampa Sandwich Shop."

Mr. Wilds, who died of natural causes, is survived by his wife of 49 years, Ozepher. He often described her as "the wind beneath his wings" and steadfastly set aside every Tuesday as date night with his wife. Mr. Wilds also is survived by two daughters, Jemelle and Jeria Wilds, and two grandchildren.

Jeria Wilds said even in retirement, her father never stopped caring for the community. When he was recently hospitalized, he continued to work on his column for La Gaceta.

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"When people asked my father how he was doing, he always said, 'I'm working at it.' He was always working at it," she said. "He was always working for change in the community. Now, as his family, it's up to us to keep working for the community."

Arrangements were being handled by the Ray Williams Funeral Home in Tampa.