Forever a Giant: Honoring Rosalie Gilcrest’s Lasting Impact on COS Athletics
College of the Sequoias' beloved long time employee and first secretary for the Athletic Department, Rosalie Gilcrest, passed away June 3 at the age of 87.
Gilcrest joined the department in a part-time role in 1973 and a decade later, became its full-time secretary. She retired in June 2002. During her tenure, she worked for five different athletic directors at the college.
Among her duties in the department were answering telephone calls, creating check requests, keeping track of department budgets, supervising student workers, typing of conference statistics, and correspondence with college staff and the community.
Other duties included photography and making award plaques for COS athletic teams. For several years, she acted as official scorer at men's home basketball games.
Her versatility was well known. One year, filling in for her husband Tom, she coached the women's basketball team for two games in a Northern California tournament.
Rosalie was the college's No. 1 fan. For several years, her car had the license plate "GO COS".
After retirement she stayed busy with travel, taking care of her pets and attending many COS athletic events.
Rosalie's entire family was involved in Giant athletics. Her former husband Tom coached men's and women's basketball at the college for nearly 25 years and was Director of Athletics for 10.
Her daughter Kathy played on the COS softball team, son David on the basketball team, and most recently, granddaughter Mia played on the volleyball team, earning conference MVP honors as a sophomore.
"Rosalie Gilcrest is as synonymous with COS Athletics as anyone in our 100-year history. Her love and support for coaches and our student athletes was unparalleled and we will miss her greatly," said COS Superintendent/President Brent Calvin, who worked with her his first year at the college as Athletic Director.
