‘Sparks’ is a fixture on the Seaview, a gentle man by nature. He loves his work with communications, always reading and keeping up with the newest and the latest innovations for the boat and the Institute.

He came to the boat as so many others, by way of a recommendation. Jiggs Starke’s son, Tom, had served with Art in Pearl, and was amazed by the man’s intuitiveness with a ship’s radio. He had told his father about him, and Stark had had Wilder brought into the office of COMSUBPAC. Once established there, he revised and improved communications to the point where Stark was singing the young officer’s praises to all who would listen, a definite change of perspective for a man who usually ate juniors for breakfast.

During this time, Wilder also came to the notice of Harriman Nelson, thru Starke. When Nelson spoke to Tom Starke, his determination to ‘get’ Wilder for the boat and Institute was confirmed.   It didn’t take the young officer long to decide that he wanted to go with Nelson’s Folly as it was being called, and moved out of the regular Navy and to the Institute with ease. He quickly set up land-based communications for the organization, and as the boat was developed, played an integral role in setting up the communications system on her. 

From time to time, he was not aboard when she shipped out, his duties at the Institute requiring he miss an occasional mission. However when he was aboard, anything that went wrong, he would manage to repair or rig, and get the system safely running when it was needed.

‘Sparks’ is not married, though he does not lack for female companionship. He is waiting for the ‘right girl’ to come along, and when she does, he says he will marry her before she can change her mind!