LEWISTON – The Franco- American Heritage Center at St. Mary’s board of directors has elected Larry Gilbert as vice president.

Laurent France Gilbert Sr. was born in Lewiston, the son of the late Emile and Eva (Plante) Gilbert. At age 10, after having attended St. Peter’s School, he moved to southern California for 14 years before returning to Lewiston in 1969 where he has since made his home.

Gilbert is married to the former Patricia Rodrigue of Augusta and they are the parents of Karen, Karla and Laurent (Larry) Jr. All attended Holy Cross School and St. Dominic Regional High School in Lewiston.

Gilbert is a Vietnam veteran, having served in the Army from 1965 to 1967. He joined the Lewiston Police Department on St. Patrick’s Day, 1969. He rose through the ranks to chief, a position he held for five years prior to his retirement in 1994 to accept an appointment by President Bill Clinton as U.S. marshal for the District of Maine. He held that position for eight years.

Gilbert was temporarily employed by Sen. Susan Collins in 2002 until he accepted the post of associate director of the Maine Community Policing Institute at the University of Maine at Augusta. Gilbert holds an associate of science degree and a bachelor of science degree from the University of Maine at Augusta. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., the New England Institute of Law Enforcement Management in Wellesley, Mass., and the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

Gilbert serves on the Sisters of Charity Health System board of directors, the Franco-American Heritage Center board and the Lewiston Downtown Advisory Board. He also serves on the Diocese of Portland Public Policy Committee.

He has been an active member of Holy Cross Parish, serving on the parish council, school board and as eucharistic minister. He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1984 and has served on numerous other advocacy boards.

In accepting his position with the Franco-American Heritage Center, Gilbert called upon his fellow Franco-American descendants and all from the Central Maine communities to commit financial assistance to the Franco-American Center.

Gilbert believes “those of my generation have a duty and responsibility to preserve and celebrate the rich culture and heritage of those generations who came before us.”

He said, “The sacrifices and the labors of those Franco-Americans need to be preserved and passed on to future generations so as to appreciate from whence we came.” Gilbert said he is proud to serve under the leadership of Mayor Lionel Guay, center president, and Executive Director Rita Dube and with the members of the board.