Kilborn golf endowment established    

[DEC. 17, 2004]  NORMAL -- Anyone who knows the quick wit of Harland Kilborn, the visionary of the Illinois State golf programs for the last 25 years, knows it's hard to leave him speechless, but that was the case Wednesday night when Linda Herman, interim director of athletics, announced the fully funded Harland Kilborn endowment, which will service the operations budget for the men's golf program. The announcement was made at Kilborn's department retirement party in The Redbird Club Room.

Kilborn's name is attached to the seventh fully funded endowment at Illinois State, joining Doug Collins, for men's basketball; Benoni Green, men's tennis; Jill Hutchison, women's basketball; Will Robinson, men's basketball; Milt Weisbecker, men's basketball; and D.A. Weibring, men's golf.

"Harland was instrumental in enhancing our relationship with D.A., creating the D.A. Weibring Endowed Scholarship and generating fund-raising opportunities through the D.A. Weibring Redbird Golf Classic -- all of which has a tremendous impact in the overall success of our men's and women's golf programs," Herman said. "It is only fitting that we would create the Harland Kilborn endowment to honor the person who had the vision and energy 25 years ago to establish a funding source that provides ongoing support of our student-athletes. Harland has dedicated himself to teaching golf as a way of life, and this endowment is a way for us to recognize his contributions with perpetuity."

For the last 25 years Kilborn has led the Illinois State golf program, on and off the bent grass fairways. His tireless dedication to Illinois State has produced some of the state's best golf pros, head coaches, tour professionals and countless community leaders.

He was also extremely active in fund-raising, teaming with ISU golfing legend and friend D.A. Weibring. Together they initiated the D.A. Weibring Redbird Golf Classic and in 1980 started the fund-raising event for the Redbird golf programs. In 2004, the final year of the event, the fund-raiser raised more than $90,000 for the golf program. The 25-year total exceeded $1,400,000.

"After 25 years, I hope Harland will take the time to reflect on all the kids he has helped for so many years," Weibring said. "He has directed a first-class golf program at Illinois State that will always be remembered and linked to him. In speaking for all the parents, players and supporters of Illinois State, I would like to thank Harland for his hard work, dedication and vision to leave the program in such great shape. Congratulations."

A 1972 Eastern Illinois graduate, Kilborn came to Bloomington-Normal and in 1976 he became the head golf professional at the ISU golf course. In 1980, he was hired as the men's coach at Illinois State and took over the women's program the next year. Under his leadership, the women's golf team won the 1983 Gateway Conference championship and finished 17th at the NCAA tournament.

In 1986, Kilborn returned from a one-year hiatus to solely coach the men's team. In 1989, the team won the school's first Missouri Valley Conference golf championship. He was also named the 1989 Valley Coach of the Year. In 1992, he repeated the effort by claiming the MVC championship and his second Valley Coach of the Year Award as well.

Since 2001, the Redbirds have finished in the top two at the league championship, and in 2001 and 2002, Kilborn was awarded with back-to-back conference honors as coach of the year. In 2002, the Redbirds swept the league hardware, winning the league championship, while Adam Goldie won medalist honors to go along with Kilborn's fourth selection as coach of the year.

[Todd Kober, assistant athletics director, media relations,
Illinois State University]

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