Clifford "Blackie" Rowe Gilbert

Clifford "Blackie" Rowe Gilbert passed away Saturday, January 2, in his home in Chico. He was 95 years of age. Blackie made hundreds of friends and often spoke of them and family members as "amazing" in various ways, as he shared stores about them. Recently he noted, "I have had a wonderful life and I am fortunate to have so many friends". Clifford was born to Mark and Kate Gilbert on July 19, 1920 in Sloughhouse, CA on a hop ranch where his Dad was employed. Blackie grew up at the (Diamond) West Branch Logging Camp, 25 miles east of Chico in 1930, where Mark was a timber faller. At the age of eleven, he began serving tables at the logging camp mess hall. He attended Chico High School where he obtained the nickname "Blackie", from a high school coach because of his deep tan. Always a leader, Blackie served as the 1939 Chico High School Student Body President and then began Chico State that fall. At the end of his sophomore year, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1941 to serve in WWII. He was attached to the Joint Assault Signal Corps in the South Pacific. Following the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Blackie and 11 other Marines were the first US troops taken into the highly radiated area to serve as reconnaissance drivers. He was honorably discharged after 4 years and 2 days as a Marine. He returned to Chico State on the G.I. Bill and graduated with a B.A. in General Education. Blackie played football for Chico State and was also on the ski team. He had an early love for skiing and was hired by the Chico Area Recreation and Park District to begin a ski program at the Mt. Lassen Volcanic Park ski area. Blackie began teaching forestry, mechanical drawing and P.E. at Chico High School in 1950-1951 and coached both junior varsity and varsity football, as well. He also coached tennis for several years. One of Blackie's attributes was the ability to teach some students who "...originally did not want to learn". His teaching skills enabled him to seek the best in every student and assist them in achieving excellence within each student's ability. Chico High School yearbooks were dedicated to Blackie twice and both times they wrote "You Cared". Unsolicited statements by past students have said that Blackie not only taught them vocational forestry, but also about life, including the basic needs for living, respect for girls, printing neatly, and work ethic. Blackie retired after 31 years of teaching at Chico High School. Blackie received numerous awards. He was inducted into the Chico State University Athletic Hall of Fame as a member of the 1948 Co-Championship Football Team. Additionally, as a 28 year line coach for Chico High School he was inducted into the Chico Enterprise-Record Newspaper Hall of Fame. Blackie was a long-time member (1953) of both Chico Masonic Lodge #111 and the Scottish Rite, initiated and continued to promote the Scottish Rite Achievement Award given to top high school students in Butte, Tehama and Glenn Counties. After retiring from Chico High School, he worked for Jim Dias Trucking for several years piloting low bed trucks and heavy equipment. Blackie was proud of co-authoring a 2013 book with Bill Dennison "What's in The Woods?" which chronicled the lives (1927-1944) of growing up and working in Diamond logging camps. Blackie and his wife Shirley owned and managed a local car wash with two other partners for over 41 years. Blackie is survived by Shirley with whom he was married 63 years, three daughters, Marcie Tevis, Lynn Gilbert-Liston and Stacy Frydel, and two grandchildren, Jarreau Gilbert and Chase Frydel. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Brusie Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held January 23, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Chico Masonic Family Center. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Shriners Hospital in care of Brusie's. Online condolences can be sent to the family at http://www.brusiefh.com.