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Elton Gilmore Retires After 32 Years With Forestry
June 21, 2009
After 32 years of service in the Florida Division of Forestry, Elton Gilmore of McDavid is retiring.
Gilmore was honored at a dinner in Pensacola Saturday night. Ben Wolcott, operations administrator for the Blackwater District for the Florida Division of Forestry, provided a little insight into “Gray Bear’s” service.
In June of 1977, Gilmore was hired as a forest ranger at the Molino Tower at the same rate of pay he had made as the assistant manager of an IGA grocery store — $5.50 an hour. He was promoted to Senior Forest Ranger in January 1986 and was promoted to Forest Area Supervisor in February 1997. He spent a total of 32 years in Forestry fire control.
Wolcott said Gilmore’s personnel file is about two and a half inches thick, “full of letters of thanks, appreciation and commendations for things he’s done, from assigning the resources to helping clear an elderly lady’s driveway after Hurricane Ivan, to leading fire crews from Virginia to Texas to Oregon, to helping organize the McDavid Volunteer Fire Department and serving as captain, assistant chief, and chief.”
“It’s a file that reveals the career of a man who’s been dedicated to his family, to the profession he chose, to the community where he raised his family and very much to his fellow workers,” Wolcott said.
Working as the District Training Officer, Gilmore helped many other firefighters in a three-county area grow in their careers, Wolcott said. Gilmore worked with Beulah Fire Chief Bobby Nigh to start the first Division of Forestry district-level Wildland Fire Training Conference, a concept that has been repeated and will continue to grow, he said.
“Elton, just like an old Colorado grizzly bear, you’ve made your mark on the tree, and it won’t be easy for anyone to reach higher than you have,” Wolcott said. “I’m proud and mean it when I say that you deserve to have great days ahead, and I’m thankful to have played with you on the Blackwater team.”
Gilmore’s official last day with the Division of Forestry is June 30.
Pictured top: Ben Wolcott (right), operations administrator for the Blackwater District for the Florida Division of Forestry, presents a plaque to Elton Gilmore Saturday night honoring him for his 32 years of service. Pictured below: Gilmore and his retirement gift — a new gas grill. Submitted photos by Bill Eubanks for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
13 Responses to “Elton Gilmore Retires After 32 Years With Forestry”
Congratulations Elton !!!!!. Best wishes from our family to yours.
Elton:
Congratulations and best wishes as you begin a new phase of life. Hope you can find time to sit back and watch the sunset every once in awhile.
Brenda & Charles
Elton,
I have known you all my life and have always looked up to you. You were always so nice and kind to me and as I grew up I watched your work ethic and treatment of others. Thanks for being such a great, kind and caring man. You and Missy enjoy retirement. You deserve it….. Don’t play too much Wii !!!! ha ha
Lynn (Kelly) Lambeth
an old Byrneville friend.
Congratulations Elton….and Missy! Much Deserved!!!!! You have given so much of yourself to this entire area in so many ways. Your children have grown into responsible, respectful adults………..sit back and enjoy those beautiful grandchildren. Enjoy your retirement.
TAG
Congradulations Elton and Missy. It is great to see you reach this part of your life after serving your profession, family, and community so well. Many may have forgotten what you done for Northwest Escambia little league, but for those of us who served with you while you were the President, we will never forget how you served with honor, integrity, and discretion. It was easy to follow in your footsteps, just hard to fill them. Congradulations again,,,,,,take them grandchildren fishing!!!!!!
Elton Gilmore has been one of Escambia’s and Northwest Florida’s finest! Congratulations, Elton. I don’t anticipate missing you, because I expect to continue seeing you, serving your fellow man in various ways.
if i remmeber right my granddaddy hire mr. gilmore congrats.
on be half of my family and MALLORY SMITH,you will be missed
thank you for all your hard and dedicated work.
RANDAL SMITH
Elton it’s great to see you finish a great job. You worked with alot of super people and 1 I know for sure ; Ellis Miller . He is my uncle and I know that when God gave you your job he put the right folks in line to help you along . So I am sure you have left a well tuned team to carry on the work. Best wishes .
But Elton, you’re too young to retire.
You’re six days younger than I am.
Best wishes always, dhg
CONGRATS!!!! Elton and Missy.maybe I will make there one day.
“May your belly never grumble,” — I don’t think Elton’s belly every grumbles for long. Besides, he’s got that new grill.
Congratulations, Elton. First time I’ve ever seen you out of uniform. Best wishes on your retirement. Should you need any advice on what NOT to do, just call me. I’ll help get you started on the right track. It was my pleasure to work with you my friend. I hope your retirement is long and happy. Here is my cowboy wish for you:
May your horse never stumble,
and your girth never break,
May your belly never grumble,
and your heart never ache.
bIG SMILES AND HOORAAAAAY’S ELTON!!!
tO YOU AND MISSY. WE ARE REALLY HAPPY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. YOU HAVE EARNED IT.
YOU HAVE FOUGHT A GOOD FIGHT and YOU HAVE WON.
bEST WISHES GOD’S BLESSINGS ELTON AND MISSY
SOME BRATT FRIENDS