Frank Gilmore, The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation’s Second President, Passes Away

Frank Gilmore, The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation’s Second President, Passes Away

From the Chair of the Board of Trustees
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, it with a heavy heart that I inform you that Dr. Frank Gilmore, the second Executive Secretary/President of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, passed away on February 14, 2018. Frank’s dedication to the Foundation began almost three decades ago when he joined the Goldwater Foundation’s Review Committee in 1990. Frank was chosen by the Board and appointed by President Obama to lead the Foundation in 2012 as its first new President in 25 years. Frank immediately began reenergizing the Foundation by personally reaching out to Goldwater Campus Representatives and potential scholars across the nation. He spearheaded and conducted the first survey of Goldwater Scholars since the Foundation’s inception, a massive undertaking that involved contacting 596 schools and 6,975 Goldwater Scholars to track their paths since named a Goldwater Scholar. In 2015, collaboratively with the leadership of the Council on Undergraduate Research (CUR), Frank established the CUR-Goldwater Scholars Faculty Mentor Award, to recognize outstanding educators who have mentored Goldwater Scholars. Four mentors have been honored and a fifth will be named this spring. As an experienced administrative leader, Frank also realized that guiding the fiscal ship was vital. To that end, he tirelessly worked to create the Barry Goldwater Educational Support Fund, a 501(c) (3) corporation, whose purpose is to raise funds to support the Goldwater Foundation.

Frank assumed the role of President of the Goldwater Foundation as a capstone to a long and distinguished career as researcher, educator and administrator, including his last position as Chancellor of Montana Tech University from which he retired in 2011. He was a devoted “Brother Rat” to his alma mater, the Virginia Military Institute, and steadfast alumnus of MIT, where he earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry. He was a member of Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Society (the international honor society of science and engineering), for over 50 years, serving as an officer, including President twice, through the years.

Frank is survived by his beloved wife and partner of 54 years, Ann, two children, Kristin Newman and Paul Gilmore (Reid Cottingham), and three grandchildren, Jackson Newman, Charlotte and Rowan Gilmore, as well as a host of loving family and friends.

Frank’s impact on the Foundation and to all he touched was vast. His moral compass, work ethic, intelligence and dedication to the principles he held dear never wavered. The world is a better place for the footprints he leaves.

Peggy Goldwater Clay, Chair, Board of Trustees
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation

From the President of the Foundation
It was with great sadness that The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation learned of the passing of the Foundation’s second President, Dr. Franklin “Frank” Gilmore, on February 14, 2018. In addition to serving as the Foundation’s president from 2012 to 2015, Frank’s service to the Goldwater program went back nearly three decades as one of the Foundation’s longest serving scholarship reviewers. Frank played a critical role in seeing that the Foundation’s emphasis on selecting outstanding undergraduates who planned to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics was never compromised. Frank’s Ph.D. in chemistry from MIT, or as Frank fondly referred to it, “that little trade school on the Charles”, ensured that he had the background and knowledge to make the difficult selection choices. As a staunch advocate for the Foundation and high-quality education, Frank’s leadership, integrity and good nature are going to be greatly missed. Prior to serving as president of The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation, Frank guided Montana Tech with the same leadership and integrity as its Chancellor from 1998 to 2011.

John Mateja, PhD
President
The Barry Goldwater Scholarship Foundation