The Austin Peay State University community honors the late Brigadier General (Ret.) Wendell H. Gilbert, age 91 of Clarksville, TN, who passed away Friday, July 8, 2022 at the “Brigadier General Wendell H. Gilbert” Tennessee State Veterans Home, in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Gilbert was a graduate from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and George Washington University. Upon his retirement from the Army, Gilbert served as vice president for development and university relations at Austin Peay, a role that he held for 17 years. Under his leadership, the fundraising and alumni activities at Austin Peay grew to be what we now know as some of our most treasured campus traditions. He helped to enhance the operations of the APSU Tower Club, the APSU Foundation and the Governor’s Club.
Gilbert also began fundraising campaigns such as APSU's Candlelight Ball, which is still held annually. He was the inaugural winner of the Wendell H. Gilbert Award, which is given each year at the event in his honor. It is presented to an individual who has significantly contributed to Austin Peay through sustained service, a significant donation to the University, or by bringing recognition to the University by his or her success.
Gilbert was highly involved in his community. Among his many achievements, he was named Emeritus and was given the Distinguished Achievement Award, APSU’s highest honor. After his time at APSU, he was called to state service as Commissioner of Veterans Affairs, the state's first Commissioner of Homeland Security and finally to be the Chief of Staff for Governor Don Sundquist.
It was his wish that any memorials be donated to the APSU general scholarship fund. To contribute, visit give.apsu.edu. Read more about his distinguished life in his obituary.
Read the quotes below to learn more about how Brig. Gen. Gilbert impacted Austin Peay and the local community.
APSU President Mike Licari
“While I never got a chance to get to know him, so many of the things that Kirsten and I are involved in were started or led by Brig. Gen. Gilbert - Candlelight Ball, the Clarksville Rotary Club and Leadership Clarksville just to name a few,” APSU President Mike Licari said. “His impact on our campus and community will not soon be forgotten.”
Mark Holleman (’87) – past APSU Foundation President Mark Holleman
“Wendell was a longtime family friend,” APSU alumnus (’87) and past APSU Foundation President Mark Holleman said. “He served our country and our community well. He was a leader at Austin Peay, and he was my mentor when I ran for Clarksville City Council. He will be dearly missed.”
Kris Phillips (’91, ’21) - APSU Vice President for Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy
“Wendell Gilbert was an influential figure in my life and in the lives of many other people,” APSU Vice President for Alumni, Engagement and Philanthropy Kris Phillips said. “He hired me for my first job in the advancement field. Our current success has been made possible by the work he did then. With his and Mrs. Jean’s passing earlier this year, APSU has truly come to the end of a great era.”
Kimberly Adkison (’06, ’10) - APSU Senior Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship
“It was an honor to work for Wendell Gilbert during his time as vice president for development and university relations,” APSU Senior Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship Kimberly Adkison said. “He was a dynamic and charismatic leader who cared about his team, his community and this University. He will always be remembered and respected by his friends at Austin Peay.”
Dee Boaz - APSU Foundation Board member
“I came to Clarksville in 1983 as editor of The Leaf-Chronicle, knowing connections had to be made quickly,” APSU Foundation Board member Dee Boaz said. “Wendell, being a native, and his wife Jean, whose background was in Columbus, Georgia, where I'd also been in newspapering, proved invaluable in making connections, both in the community in general and at Austin Peay in particular. A friendship quickly developed where we worked together and supported each other's ideas and efforts, including the Flying High fundraiser for the fledgling Clarksville-Montgomery County Historical Museum - now known as the Customs House Museum, the Candlelight Ball fundraiser for APSU and the Gala for the Arts to unveil the concert hall for APSU. Today we have the successful Leadership Clarksville program ready to begin its 35th year, because Wendell, who was the incoming Chamber of Commerce president, endorsed the idea and helped guide its inception. Clarksville's and Austin Peay's vibrancy today are easily traced to true, solid community leaders such as Wendell.”
Dr. Linda Rudolph ('69) - APSU retiree
"Wendell Gilbert was a dear friend and mentor to me for several years," APSU alumna and retiree Dr. Linda Rudolph ('69) said. "He was a supporter of APSU, the military and the great state of Tennessee. Austin Peay continues to succeed today due in large part to the foundation that was laid by General Gilbert. He was a true example of servant leadership."
Keri McInnis ('95) - APSU Board of Trustees member
"I have so many fond memories of Brig. Gen. Gilbert, as I was blessed to know him and learn from him, both as a student in the APSU President's Emerging Leaders Program and as a student worker for APSU Development (now the APSU Office of Philanthropy)," APSU alumna and Board of Trustees member Keri McInnis ('95) said. "General Gilbert was gracious and kind to everyone. He loved his family, the military and his APSU family. Many of the University's scholarship programs were started and later became endowed because of his hard work. He worked tirelessly and made it look easy. The APSU National Alumni Association grew in chapters and membership engagement because of his efforts. He was a true Christian gentleman and servant leader who loved life. He was a dear friend to me and he will be missed but not forgotten."
Sharon Silva (’84) – APSU retiree
“Wendell Gilbert literally jumpstarted my professional career by seeing something in me as a student worker,” APSU alumna and retiree Sharon Silva (’84) said. “The kindness and guidance shown to me by both him and Mrs. Gilbert will never be forgotten. This community is fortunate they made their home here for so many years.”
Julia McGee (’84) – APSU retiree
“I think very highly of Wendell Gilbert, and I have always said that he earned my respect,” APSU alumna and retiree Julia McGee (’84) said. “I was impressed with his commitment to get development up and running and I quickly realized he was by far the best person to accomplish the task. Having been born in Clarksville, he was well known to the ‘Movers and Shakers’ in the community, as well as to the military community. Very quickly he began asking the question to everyone, ‘What have you done for Austin Peay today?’ But he wasn’t just about APSU, he and his wife Jean were very involved in service to the community. He assembled a great team that included APSU Public Relations and Alumni. He exhibited a great deal of respect for each team member and their input, encouraging each of us to expand our abilities and contributions. He orchestrated the team, keeping us ‘on the same sheet of music’ and making sure ‘our ducks were in a row.’ If a new, more effective way to operate was found, the old way was ‘overtaken by events.’ Those common phrases were referred to by the team as ‘Gilbertisms.’ The team quickly learned the lingo and celebrated the positive work environment. It is a joy to think back on my experience working with Wendell. He truly was a great leader—a man of integrity, compassion, encouragement, patience and overall good nature. I don’t recall him ever being angry or speaking unkindly to anyone. I have enjoyed getting together with Wendell and Jean over the years.”
Ben Kimbrough, Sr. - 2014 Wendell H. Gilbert Award recipient
"When he was making the decision to take the position at APSU, I encouraged him to do so," APSU alumnus, emeritus member of the APSU Foundation and longtime friend of Wendell Gilbert, Ben Kimbrough, Sr. ('51) said. "Wendell was a vibrant person who knew the direction he wanted to go and worked hard to get there. He was an asset to APSU."
Jack Turner - 2016 Wendell H. Gilbert Award recipient
"Wendell Gilbert was a longtime friend and supporter of everything good for our community," emeritus member of the APSU Foundation Jack Turner said. "He was a creative visionary who knew how to put original ideas into practice. Wendell was instrumental in the creation and sustainability of The Citizens for Fort Campbell initiative, as well as one of the important founders of Leadership Clarksville. He will be greatly missed."