AUGUSTA – Austin Horatio Wilkins, 102, died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation, Augusta. He was born July 24, 1903, in Sommerville, Mass., the son of William Austin and Angie (Williams) Wilkins. He married Evelyn Norton July 20, 1931. She preceded him in death. Mr. Wilkins graduated from the University of Maine, Orono in 1926, with a bachelor of science degree in forestry. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma and earned his “M” in track. In 1978, he received the Black Bear Award given by the University of Maine Alumni Association. In 2002, he received an honorary doctorate in humane letters from the University of Maine, Augusta. Austin received his masters degree in forestry from Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. He studied forestry in Europe during his masters program under Dr. Carl A. Schenk. He was at LeBorget Airfield in Paris when Charles Lindburgh landed after his historic flight over the Atlantic Ocean. He was employed by the Maine Forest Service for 44 consecutive years, (1928-1972) and served under 13 governors. In 1958, he was appointed forest commissioner by Governor Edmund Muskie and served in the position for 14 years until his retirement. Mr. Wilkins received many forestry awards and served as president of the National Association of State Foresters. He served as chairman of the Baxter State Park Authority and received citations from the U.S. Forest Service for forest fire protection. He wrote numerous forestry articles for newspapers and magazines; was the author of a book entitled “Ten Million Acres of Timber” and co-author of “A History of the Maine Civilian Conservation Corps 1933-1942.” He was a member of the Maine Arborists Association, the Northeastern Loggers Association and a charter member of the Pine State Arboretum. He was a 50-year member of the South Parish Congregational Church where he served as deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was a mason and received their Golden Membership Award in 1975. Austin devoted his life to his family and preserving the great forest of Maine. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his daughter, Priscilla Wilkins, of Augusta; a son, Austin H. Wilkins Jr. and his wife, Sylvia, of Michigan City, Ind.; and two grandsons, Austin H. Wilkins III and John Mitchell Wilkins, both of Michigan City, Ind. A funeral service will be held 1:30 p.m. Thursday at South Parish Congregational Church, Church Street, Augusta. A reception celebrating Austin’s life will follow the service and will be held in the church’s Margaret Grover Room. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery, Augusta. Memorial donations may be made to the Austin H. Wilkins Forestry Scholarship Fund, care of Dean of the College of Forest Resources, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-0125 or the South Parish Congregational Church, Church Street, Augusta, ME 04330. Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton and Hewins Funeral Home, One Church Street, Augusta. www.khrfuneralhomes.com
AUSTIN H. WILKINS
