PWCISD mourns loss of superintendent

PWCISD mourns loss of superintendent Jacksboro Editor Mon, 06/10/2024 - 6:17 pm Perrin-Whitt CISD Superintendent Cliff Gilmore, right, died Monday, June 10 after a short battle with acute leukemia. (Photo/Tammy Reynolds) Perrin-Whitt CISD Superintendent Cliff Gilmore, right, died Monday, June 10 after a short battle with acute leukemia. (Photo/Tammy Reynolds) Perrin-Whitt CISD Superintendent Cliff Gilmore died Monday, June 10, after a short battle with acute leukemia.Perrin Secondary School Principal Loren Sell said Gilmore began feeling ill in late May. He was diagnosed with acute leukemia and went to Medical City Dallas for treatment last week.“We were talking and he said he felt it was going to be a short stay there,” Sell said. “We were texting back and forth even this past Friday (June 7).”He began to take a turn for the worse this last weekend and passed away early morning Monday, June 10, Sell said.Sell had plenty of positive things to say about working for Gilmore and his love for kids.“Cliff was all about the kids,” Sell said. “He may not have been a real people person but any time a kid was in need or needed something right then, Cliff was the first to be there.”Sell said Gilmore made things easy and was a “great person to work for.”Gilmore replaced John Kuhn in 2016. Gilmore came to the district out of retirement but had been in Aspermont before he came to Perrin.Board President Chris Keeney said losing Gilmore was a “big loss for our district.”“He was great for our school district,” Keeney said. “He got our finances back to where they should be. I enjoyed working with him and learning a lot about the process/struggles of running a district.”PWCISD Athletic Director Todd McCormick said Gilmore made the school and its programs the best they could be.“He always made sure went had all the tools we needed and was always encouraging us and the kids. Just a great man,” McCormick said.Perrin head volleyball coach Rebekah Bland was hired 19 years ago by Gilmore as a track coach.Bland has a special tie to Gilmore having coached his daughter.“He would find several timesharing the meet with a running total of points, letting me know exactly what needed to be done to win,” Bland said. “He was very competitive. I was blessed to have him as a mentor and friend that shaped me into the coach and teacher I became.”A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, June 17 at Calvary Baptist Church in Vernon. There will be no visitation or graveside service. Log in to post comments