The Wanaka-based businessman was presented with the special award - the City of Dunedin Mayor's Award for Business Personality - at the Otago Business Awards.
The award last night follows recognition in 2007 by former mayor Peter Chin and Dunedin City Holdings chairman Paul Hudson for the service Mr Gilks had provided to the city-owned companies.
He retired as a board member of City Holdings after moving to Wanaka in 2006. He remains chairman of Port Otago.
Mr Gilks has often been praised for the contribution he has made to the city in the past five decades.
He founded Motor Trade Finances and was its managing director for 22 years, putting Dunedin on the map for quality finance companies.
He set up securitisation of MTF loans to ensure the car dealer shareholders received the best possible returns.
Mr Hudson said he first worked with Mr Gilks in the late 1980s when Mr Gilks worked to turn the council's electricity department into a profitable business which contributed to the wealth of the city.
He went on to work on restructuring the electricity industry at a national level on the board of the former Electricity Corporation of New Zealand.
THE GILKS FILE
- Founded Motor Trade Finances and was its managing director for 22 years.
- Chairman of Port Otago and of Receivables Management (NZ).
- Deputy chairman of Fisher and Paykel Appliances.
