Wilfredo Cortes Collazo was born on March 11, 1957 in Hartford,
Connecticut. His grandmother, Agripina Cartagena, migrated to
the United States from Puerto Rico in the early 1950’s and raised
him from a little boy. He credits her with encouraging him to
pursue a college education and to live a purposeful life.
Wayne D. Casey, Sr., WVSU Hall of Famer, played a huge part in infl uencing Wilfredo to attend West
Virginia State where Head Football Coach, Colin Cameron, off ered him a football scholarship. He
made such an impact on Coach Cameron that he made him a starter at safety his freshmen year.
He fi nished the season second on the team and fourteenth in the WVIAC Conference with 10.4
tackles per game and tied for second on the team in interceptions. In addition, he was selected a
member of the WVIAC All Conference Team.
In 1980, Wilfredo earned his B.S. Degree in Business Administration and was commissioned as a
Second Lieutenant in the United States Army where he attained the rank of Major. As a college
student, Wilfredo served as Basileus, Theta Psi Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and
was Mr. West Virginia State in 1979. He was also a member of the Pan-Hellenic Council, Student
Government, ROTC, and The ARCH.
Over the last sixteen years, Wilfredo has had a successful career in sales as a Production Solutions
Executive with Xerox Corporation and is a licensed Real Estate Consultant with Keller Williams
Realty in Bradenton, Florida.
Wilfredo has given his time and talent back to the community by coaching youth basketball and
serving as the Commissioner of the Seneca Ridge Basketball League. He enjoys playing golf and
fi shing in his spare time. He and his beautiful wife, Sandy (Tyree), reside in Ellenton, Florida. They are the proud parents to Tina, Tana, and Wil, Jr., and have six wonderful grandchildren.
