John Wild

John Wild of Auburn, Alabama passed away in the early morning hours of Sunday, January 19th, 2025 after an extended illness.

Born in Detroit, Michigan to Peter and Eloise Wild, John was one of five siblings. As he grew up he turned into a jack of all trades, working as a paper boy, in a gas station as well as a restaurant. There were many more jobs in between, ones this family would learn about one story at a time. After graduating high school, John enrolled at Michigan State University. During his four years in East Lansing he earned a degree in hotel management and met the love of his life.

John and Barbara married then set off on a cross-country adventure for his job. He managed hotels in half a dozen states. Along the way they welcomed two children, Kristin and Matt. The young family eventually settled in Auburn when John was named General Manager of the Auburn University Hotel and Dixon Conference Center. What they thought might be a brief stop turned into the community their family would call home.

His love of Auburn, and the wider Lee County area, was most evident in his work as President & CEO of AO Tourism. He took over the position in 2003 and held it until his retirement in 2022. During his tenure, he not only worked to bring national attention to local tourism but was also part of the team to recruit Super 6 (eventually becoming the Super 7) to Jordan-Hare Stadium. He served as chairman on numerous boards over the years including the Alabama Association of Destination Management Organizations, Alabama Hotel and Restaurant Association and Alabama Travel Council.

John’s work in the hospitality industry was recognized on multiple occasions. He was named Alabama’s Hotelier of the Year in the early 2000s. He was also honored with the Auburn Chamber of Commerce’s Teague Award for Volunteer of the Year in 1999, the Chairman’s Award in 2006 and the Spirit of Auburn Award in 2018. He was especially proud of AO Tourism being named DMO of the Year in 2021.

His dedication to the community extended beyond hospitality. He was an active member of the Rotary Club of Auburn, served as an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Auburn and spent time on the boards for the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center as well as the Gogue Performing Arts Center.

In his later years, you were most likely to find John with a camera in his hand. Photography was more of a passion than a hobby for him. He enjoyed spending time on the sidelines at Auburn High School or Auburn University, and capturing special moments at city events. Many of his pictures were featured in the Auburn Villager on a weekly basis. His skills also came in handy when traveling with his wife and family to favorite destination across the United States and abroad.

John is survived by his wife of 43 years, Barbara. His daughter Kristin now lives in North Carolina. His son Matt lives in Georgia with his wife Alex and their daughter Emmy.

The family invites you to join them for a Celebration of Life reception on February 21st. Stop by anytime from 2-5 PM at the Hotel at Auburn University.

In lieu of flowers, the Wild Family asks you to consider a donation to the KCNT1 Foundation in honor of his cherished granddaughter or Auburn University’s Canine Performance Sciences in honor of his beloved black lab, Phoebe.

Link to KCNT1 Foundation: https://kcnt1epilepsy.org/bringhope

Link to CPS: AuburnGiving.org/JohnWildMemorial