SAN ANGELO — Carolyn Gilbert, long-time district extension director, has retired after 33 years with the Texas Agricultural Extension Service.
Gilbert had been director for the West Central District 7 District since 1981. She was headquartered in the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and Extension Center here.
Gilbert supervised the family and consumer science Extension agents in the district’s 23 counties. Earlier in her career, Gilbert was an Extension 4-H and youth development specialist headquartered at the Texas 4-H Center near Brownwood. From 1972 to 1977 she was a home economics Extension agent in Brown County.
She began her Extension career in 1965 first as an assistant Extension home demonstration agent in Taylor County and later as an associate agent in Wichita County. In 1969 she left Extension for a tour of active duty with the U.S. Air Force at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington.
Gilbert holds a bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University. The school named her a Distinguished Alumna for the College of Arts and Sciences in 1994-95. She was again honored by the university in 1996 as the department of family and consumer sciences outstanding alumna. She also holds a master’s degree in secondary education from Tarleton State University at Stephenville. She currently serves as a member of the school’s department of human sciences advisory council.
Gilbert has been a member of the Air Force Reserve since completing active duty. She was promoted to the rank of colonel in 1996. She has been a reservist for 22 years. In that capacity she served with the 301st Fighter Wing at Carswell Air Force Base and later with the Mission Support Commander at Edwards Air Force Base in California. She is currently serving as investigating officer with the 10th Air Force Inspector General, headquartered at the Fort Worth Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base.
The retiring director served on the Strategic Leadership Development Committee, the Economic Development Initiative Team, and the Texas Community Programs Leadership Team for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. She is a member of the American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences and the Reserve Officers Association of the United States. Along with her academic honors, Gilbert has twice received the Extension Service’s Superior Service Award. She has also been recognized by numerous agencies, colleagues, civic organizations, and individuals throughout her Extension and Air Force careers.
A Gorman native, Gilbert will remain in San Angelo following retirement. She plans to remain active in the Johnson Street Church of Christ where she has long taught third through sixth graders in the church’s “Footprints of the Faithful” program.
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