In 1956, he was graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in General Engineering with an emphasis in electronics; he graduated with the rank of Lieutenant. He served for 35 months in the U.S. Navy where he was assigned to the 6th fleet destroyer as a gunnery officer and spent one year to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Technical Intelligence Branch of the Intelligence Directorate.

In 1960, the 2nd District of Texas elected him to the Texas House of Representatives where he served for six years and then was elected for six years to the Texas Senate. While serving the public during these years, he managed a retail lumber yard and home building operation.

For the past 16 years, Wilson has served as a United States Congressman first serving on the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Veterans Affairs Committee. After only one full term in office, he upset the House seniority system by winning a seat on the influential House Appropriations Committee. He has also been appointed to the Ad Hoc Select Committee on Energy, the Ethics Committee, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. While a member of the House he has concentrated on international relations, defense issues, energy legislation, and legislation affecting older Americans.

For almost three years, starting in April, 1981, he was elected Chairman of the Sunbelt Council, a legislative support group for Congressmen from sixteen southern, southwestern and border states. He was an elected Delegate to the 1984 Democratic National Convention and is a recipient of the 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987 American Security Council Coalition for Peace through Strength Leadership Award.