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Gilmore leaves post at college after nearly 40 years
About 40 years ago, Jack Gilmore could have chosen to leave Fort Scott.
And at that time, if he would have followed the advice of some local residents who urged him to teach somewhere else, he might have done just that. But the 75-year-old Fort Scott Community College instructor, who recently announced his retirement, and his wife decided to stick around. With that decision, Gilmore would ultimately go on to leave behind a lasting teaching legacy at the two-year college.
"People were telling us, 'You need to get out of town, this is a bad place to teach," Gilmore said during a retirement reception in his honor on Thursday at FSCC. "We never saw it that way. We enjoy it here."
Nearly 100 of Gilmore's colleagues, friends, family members, and several other area residents honored Gilmore on Thursday for his 40 years of service to the college. Gilmore, who began teaching full-time at FSCC in 1968, first taught physical science and later began teaching biology, a subject that he taught for many years.
"Jack Gilmore made a living of what he loved, and that love was teaching," FSCC Dean of Instruction Mary Ann Leamon-Childers said.
During his time at FSCC, Gilmore taught more than 250 classes and more than 5,800 students, Leamon-Childers said.
FSCC President Clayton Tatro said Gilmore has always been a giving person, and would frequently send flowers to Tatro and his wife as gifts.
"Your legacy will be greatly missed in that regard," Tatro said. "They broke the mold after Jack."
On Thursday, Gilmore explained his reason for retiring and leaving behind his much-loved profession.
"I think it's time, and not because I'm 75," he said. "I just think it's time. I enjoy working with all of the staff, the custodians, and I think I have a fairly decent relationship with all the teachers. I teach for the students."
In his resignation letter to FSCC administrators, Gilmore said that many years ago he and other teachers at the college became a close-knit group, like a "family." But that atmosphere would eventually change as FSCC began to grow exponentially over the years, expanding its educational programs into nearby counties.
"We were all a family, but then FSCC started growing and after that something happens to that family unit," he said. "But I'll tell you something, I've enjoyed every class in every semester I've ever taught."
Gilmore also read a statement from one of his former students about the positive effects that Gilmore had on his students both inside and outside the classroom.
"I learned more than just biology," the student said in the statement. "I learned discipline and respect."
An emotional Gilmore wiped a tear from his face shortly before concluding his speech.
"I think our job was to challenge them (students) and give them respect," he said. "You probably don't know how much I care about my students. I do."
Gilmore will also be honored next week when Fort Scott Mayor Gary Bukowski signs a proclamation declaring Wednesday, May 21 as Jack Gilmore Day in Fort Scott, Tatro said.