Gerald Ellington Elmore, 80, son of Wales Ellington “Dick” and Francis Estelle Shacklette Elmore, was born Nov. 6, 1927, at Cherryvale, Kan. He died March 21, 2008, at Ozarks Medical Center at West Plains.
He graduated from Houston High School in 1945, where he was active in football, basketball and track. He attended the University of Missouri-Columbia.
He married Carolyn Rowden Jan. 23, 1948.
Mr. Elmore served in the U.S. Army as a personnel specialist and in the National Guard for 30 years as administrator. He was an instructor at Missouri Military Academy, Camp Clark; personnel administrator, Fort Lee, Va.; Selective Service Registrar at West Plains; Senior NCO School, Missouri Military Academy in Jefferson City and Retention Counselor School at Fort Leonard Wood. He retired with the rank of sergeant major.
Mr. Elmore served as city administrator at Houston from 1984-’88 and at West Plains from 1988-’96. During his tenure, an office for the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce was established, a National Guard unit at Houston was organized, a Community Betterment program was established, the Texas County Public Health Unit was approved and a state award for excellence in planning was received.
At West Plains, the West Plains Airport at Pomona was accomplished, a city office complex and new police/fire station complex were acquired, U.S. 63 by-pass lighting was installed, Porter Wagoner Boulevard was made four lane, a city transportation system was established, the Greenway plant was implemented; Buck Park and street curb and guttering were constructed and the Senior Citizens Center was purchased.
He was instrumental in planning, funding and construction of the West Plains Civic Center.
He loved the City of West Plains and served in civic endeavors for more than 50 years. He served as president of the White Oak Camp Association, president of the Kiwanis Club and lieutenant governor, Kiwanis, Missouri-Arkansas District. He was president of the West Plains Chamber of Commerce and received the 2006 lifetime achievement award and honorary membership in 2002. He served on the advisory committee of MSU, West Plains campus, and president of the Wet Plains Park Board.
He served on the West Plains School board, serving as presdient from 1975-’80. He was president of the South Central Missouri School Board Association and executive committee of the Missouri School Board Association in Jefferson City. He was a lay member of the State Medical Malpractice Board, chairman of the South Central Regional Planning Commission and mayor of West Plains from 1980-’84. He was a member of the West Plains Rotary Club and founding member of the West Plains Jaycees. He was a long time member of the West Plains Civic Center board and original member and first donor of the MSU West Plains Campus Grizzlies.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of West Plains for 58 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years; daughter, Terri Woody of Springfield; brothers, Gilbert Elmore of Walnut Shade, Tom of Anchorage, Alaska, and Jerry Elmore of Philadelphia, Mo.; sister, Joy Young of Dayton, Ohio; and two grandchildren.
Services were March 24 at the First Baptist Church of West Plains under the direction of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial was in the Oak Lawn Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the furnishing of the Gerald Elmore conference room at the West Plains City office, First Baptist Church or First United Methodist Church in care of the funeral home, 211 W. Main, West Plains, Mo. 65775.
