Former Bruin to be honored at Pauley
Friday, 2/28/97
Former Bruin to be honored at Pauley
Kirk Kilgour inspires, actively contributes to community despite injury
By Jennifer Kollenborn
Daily Bruin Contributor
Aristotle said: "Hope is a waking dream." These are the words that former All-American, Kirk Douglas Kilgour, lives by.
The UCLA men's volleyball team will honor Hall of Famer Kilgour in tonight's celebration of the 20th annual Kilgour Cup.
The Bruins will host No. 7 Hawaii tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion, and all proceeds from the night will go to Kilgour.
"We always try to schedule a good team for this event, so we can get a bigger crowd," UCLA head coach Al Scates said.
Once a star volleyball pioneer leading UCLA to its first NCAA championship, Kilgour suffered a near-death experience which left him a paraplegic for life.
Kilgour starred as a hitter for UCLA from 1969 to 1971, during which time he played for championship teams in 1970 and won the NCAA Championship MVP award in 1971. At the same time, Kilgour played on the U.S. Olympic team from 1968 to 1976. He was selected a U.S. Volleyball Association All-American in 1969. He also became the first American to play in Italy, playing there from 1974-1976.
It was 1976 when Kilgour suffered his debilitating accident. He recounts the incident:
"In a pre-game warm-up for the Italian National Team, we were doing some gymnastic agility drills. I jumped off a vaulting horse, and I tried to do a flip and didn't make it around and landed on my neck."
"He almost died over there," Scates said. "Fortunately, there was an orthopedic surgeon at the match who took over immediately." Scates and UCLA reacted to the accident by starting an annual fund-raiser for Kilgour.
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Despite his accident in 1976, Kilgour reawakened an optimistic man who would touch the hearts of many athletes, friends and family. His No. 13 jersey was retired in 1987, and his name is enshrined in UCLA's Athletic Hall of Fame.
"We're going on 20 years (for the Kilgour Cup), and it does help," Kilgour said. "That's the problem with disabilities. You sort of get stuck within the system even if you work. It's difficult to stay within the system and maintain some kind of life.
"It's a vicious circle which needs to be addressed constantly. That's one reason I became an L.A. city commissioner: to help people work and survive with dignity."
"City commissioner" is just one of Kilgour's occupations. He also has his own production company, consults for a new cartoon show, works as a commissioner for people with disabilities, and worked on the board to provide support for spinal cord injury.
He has spoken at several camps for the U.S. Volleyball Association, and he was the head coach for the Pepperdine men's volleyball team that won the 1985 NCAA Championship. Now he is a full-time broadcaster.
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Besides the sentimental weight to UCLA (8-3, 7-2 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation), the match against Hawaii (7-5, 5-4) will serve as a conference test to the fifth-ranked Bruins.
"They have some great jump servers," Scates said. "They had 12 aces against San Diego. (This time) they will be more competitive."
However, aside from the thrill of tonight's volleyball competition, the most important aspect of the Kilgour Cup still entails honoring one of UCLA's greatest athletes.
BAHMAN FARAHDEL
Kirk Kilgour, star hitter from 1969-71, is now the announcer for UCLA men's volleyball games.
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