AUGUSTA - Austin Horatio Wilkins, 102, of Augusta died on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2005, at MaineGeneral Rehabilitation & Nursing Care at Gray Birch in Augusta. He was born in Sommerville, Mass., on July 24, 1903, the son of William Austin and Angie (Williams) Wilkins. He married Evelyn Norton on July 20, 1931. She preceded him in death. Mr. Wilkins graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1926 with a Bachelor of Science degree in forestry. He was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma and won 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 at Augusta. Austin received his master's degree in forestry from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. He studied forestry in Europe during his master's program under Dr. Carl A. Schenk. He was at Le Borget Field 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 Gov. 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 titled '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 Tree 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 forests 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. A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, 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: Austin H. Wilkins Forestry Scholarship Fund, c/o Dean of the College of Forest Resources, University of Maine, Orono 04469-0125; or to: South Parish Congregational Church, Church Street, Augusta 04330. Arrangements are in the care of Knowlton & Hewins Funeral Home, 1 Church St., Augusta.