
Congratulations to Professor Emeritus Dr. Frank Gilstrap upon being named a 2019 Honorary Member of the Entomological Society of America (ESA).
Dr. Gilstrap is recognized for extraordinary contributions to the ESA through his career while he was with the Department of Entomology, Texas A&M AgriLife Research.
His research included biological control of insects and mites damaging small grains, field crops, and fruit. Dr. Gilstrap earned the B.A. Degree (1968) in biology from Fresno State College and the Master of Science Degree and Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Entomology from the University California-Riverside in 1971 and 1974, respectively.
During his career, Dr. Gilstrap conducted entomological research in the United States, Africa, and Central America; generated $4.25 million in funding; graduated 14 M.S. and 14 Ph.D. students; and published 237 articles and reports (83 peer refereed, 31 in ESA journals).
As an AgriLife Research Associate Director from 1996-2003, Dr. Gilstrap managed intellectual property, $5 million in appropriated funds, and Texas commodity relationships. As the director of the Dallas Urban Center, he created and implemented a business-based management model for the Center and established more than 60 partnerships that grew annual Center revenue from $250,000 from 2000 to 2005 to $2.1 million in 2011.
Dr. Gilstrap has been a continuous member of the Entomological Society of America since 1972. He served as President (2006), as member of the ESA Governing Board (2000-2007), as member of the Entomological Foundation Board of Counselors (1997-2011), and as member of the editorial board for the Journal of Economic Entomology (1983-87; Chair in 1987). Dr. Gilstrap was named Fellow of the Entomological Society of America in 2011.
Additional highlights of his service to the discipline include 1989 President of the International Organization for Biological Control/Nearctic Regional Section (1979-1989) and project leader for the International Sorghum-Millet Collaborative Research Support Program, US Agency for International Development (1979-1995).
Dr. Gilstrap retired in 2010 and named Professor Emeritus by the Texas A&M System Board of Regents in 2011, and was honored by the Department of Entomology in January 2019 with the Department’s Lifetime Achievement Recognition.