Gene Wilcoxson, a Pueblo native, is a Pueblo East High graduate of the Class of 1969. Although Gene, demonstrated leadership in many areas and endeavors, both overseas and in the United States, he has given yeoman service to East High School by volunteering to be an active, long- time serving member of the East High Alumni Foundation Board of Directors. It is for this performance and contribution that Mr. Wilcoxson is being recognized by this “Service To East High School Award.

During a critical time in the history of the Foundation, when the East High Heritage Hall was being planned and constructed, Mr. Wilcoxson served as the East High Foundation President His leadership in overseeing the construction of the Hall, as well as making pertinent decisions regarding change orders and completion of the Hall, contributed significantly to the success of the building project. Mr. Wilcoxson eventually served four years as the Foundation’s President, after which he continued to serve on the Board of Directors in several capacities. He was and is the first person to offer support for East High’s annual Homecoming Barbeque, the Golden Eagle Hall of Fame, the East High Activities Hall of Fame, and the East High After-Prom-Party.

In 1973, Mr. Wilcoxson received his Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Oregon State University. He continued his post-graduate work at Oregon State in oceanography, at Queensland Australia University in computer science, and at Colorado State University-Fort Collins in human resource development. In 1975, Gene entered the world of work when he was contracted to teach Australian History, mathematics, biology, general science, outdoor education, and computer science at Kingaroy State High School in Queensland, Australia. He taught for ten and a half years; in addition to classroom teaching responsibilities, he coached and refereed numerous sports. He was the school’s athletic director for five years and helped develop the school’s outdoor education center

In December 1985, Mr. Wilcoxson returned to the United States, where he left his teaching and education career to work for the Sperry Corporation in Pueblo, Colorado, which later became Unisys, then Loral. He managed the skills training department and, later became the Environmental, Safety, and Human Training Manager. Following the demise of the Loral Facility, Gene worked for the QuaI Med Health Insurance enterprise organization. Later he went to work for the Colorado Department of Human Services, after which he became the Safety and Risk Manager for the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo, Colorado.

Locally Mr. Wilcoxson serves, or has served, on numerous advisory committees, including the Colorado Community College’s Occupational Education Technical Education Advisory Committee and the Pueblo City Schools Vocational Education Advisory Committee. He served as co-chairman of Pueblo’s first Local Emergency Planning Committee and helped to develop the Pueblo Behavioral Health Response Team, Gene and his wife, Marty, enjoy travel, golf, and scuba diving. They have hosted exchange students, business and education professionals, and they were able to assist in a surgical eye clinic in Namibia, Africa, where 325 patients had their eyesight restored.