Millennium Magazine_6th Ed

182 Millennium - A Marquis Who’s Who Magazine J ames M. Gelwicks received a BA from the University of Colorado in 1972 and an MA in communication theory and research from Northern Illinois University in 1977. Since 2017, he has notably served his second term as the Mayor of Gunnison, Colorado, and with a more than 20-year career in teaching at Western Colorado State University, he was named emeritus assistant professor in 2005 at the time of his retirement. At the inceptionofhiscareer in1969,Mr.Gelwicks was a decontamination trainee with the Dow Chemical Company. From 1975 to 1981, he worked as a research consultant in Tallahassee, Florida, and spent 1980 as an adjunct professor at Flor- ida State University. Heading back to Colorado, Mr. Gelwicks began teaching as an assistant profes- sor at Western Colorado University, where he also served as the chair of communication arts and sociology and as the general manager of KWSB-FM. He worked at the university for 23 years. Entering the world of community government and politics, he served his first termas Mayor of Gunnison from 1993 to 1995 and was reelected in 2017. For dedication to his community and teaching career, Mr. Gelwicks has been the recipient of numerous honors throughout the course of his career. In 2005, the Sons of the American Legion named him Member of the Year, and in 2002, the Colorado Education Association awarded him with the Lion Award. Additionally, Mr. Gelwicks was named Broadcast Citizen of the Year by the Colorado Broadcasters Association in 1994 and Outstanding Senior Debater by the Colorado- Wyoming Forensics Association in 1971. Mr. Gelwicks is a committeeman and a detachment financial officer for the Sons of the American Legion, as well as a lifetime member of the National Communication Association. Mr. Gelwicks calls his time serving as a delegate to the People’s Republic of China and Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for People to People Speech Communications Leaders in 1984 the highlight of his career. In these positions, he developed the desire to be a voice and leader for his own Colorado community. JAMES M. GELWICKS MAYOR Gunnison, CO GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY