Papers of Glenn E. Wilson, Jr.

Glenn "Kelly" E. Wilson, Jr., was a career Extension agent predominantly active in the San Juan Basin area of Colorado. He was born in San Bernardino, California, on March 27, 1935, and later moved to Colorado. Wilson attended Montezuma-Cortez High School, Fort Lewis College, and obtained a Bachelor of Science in agriculture from Colorado State University in the 1950s.

In 1959, Wilson was hired by the Weld County Extension Office to work as an assistant agent for 4-H. He stayed in Weld County until 1964, when he moved to Montezuma County, Colorado, to become the county's Extension agent. During Wilson's time as lead agent, he organized the Montelores Junior Fair and Livestock Sale and helped 4-H youth to elect a Board of Directors and borrow money to build a show barn. Wilson also involved Extension in Overall Economic Development Planning, eventually receiving loans to build the Montezuma Plywood Plant. Finally, Wilson also served as chairman, secretary, treasurer, and advisor to the Montezuma Rural Water Company during this time.

In 1966, Wilson became the Extension Development Specialist for southwest Colorado and continued in this position until his retirement in 1981. During his tenure, Wilson was instrumental in helping to establish the Four Corners Recreation and Tourism Association, the Four Corners Regional Commission, the Rural Affairs Council in Region 9, the Montezuma County Community Action Program, and began community discussion regarding vocational education and the building of a regional airport. He also worked on recreation and feasibility studies with both the Southern Ute and the Ute Mountain Tribes and organized the first Police and Community Relations Workshop to help reduce tension between police and minorities. Wilson's interests were varied and his records reflect work done on a wide range of efforts including the breeding of rabbits for profit and water use and recreation.

Throughout his years working for Extension, Wilson belonged to a host of professional organizations including the Colorado County Agents Association, the Community Development Society, Epsilon Sigma Phi (a professional organization for Extension agents), the Order of Patrons of Husbandry (Grange), the Southwest Livestock Association, and Toastmasters International. He married Rita Wilson in 1969 and had five children: Gary, Beth, Linde, Coleen, and Nicki Wilson.