Final rites for Bruce Gilliland held

Funeral Services for Bruce Gilliland were held this past Tuesday with a large crowd turning out to honor "Kimball's King of Golf." Bruce lived a long and contributing life passing away at his home at age 98. Without a doubt, Bruce played the major role in developing, and maintaining golf in Kimball.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Bruce migrated to Kimball with wife Wilma in year 1951 and they formed Plains Construction in 1953. The Gilliland's were active members of our community from the first day they arrived, and continued right up until the present. Bruce was a founding member of the Rotary Club in Kimball, and served on the Kimball City and County Park and Recreation Board since it's inception in 1965, and was the Director of Golf for 45 plus years.

Since this is a sports column, I will focus mostly on his contributions to the sport of golf. First off, I recall a story Bruce told me about how his life partner, Wilma got introduced to the sport.

Bruce said "I was busy working and Wilma had some time on her hands as a young lady and she went with me to play some golf and got hooked on the game right away. She became very good at the game, and together we enjoyed our association with golf."

I guess so, as both are members of the Nebraska Golf Hall of Fame!

Bruce designed and built the Four Winds Golf Course. He also supervised the construction of the Baseball/softball complex, the archery range, Trap Club, Tennis Court Complex. Not only did he design the entire layout, but he did a ton of hands-on-labor for all of this. His work was all volunteer. Can you imagine what it would have cost to hire engineers to do this?

When Wilma said she would like to have a junior golf area where kids could practice free, Bruce built it. When Wilma said she would like to have a Gazebo down by the junior area and close to the trap club building, Bruce built it. While Wilma was active as a player and serving on several committees on National and State golfing events, Bruce volunteered as a Scoreboard Printer for the Women's Trans National Golf Association and served in this capacity from 1972 through 1993.

Bruce was a member of the founding organization, the Nebraska State' Sands Greens Golf Association. Bruce also formed the Panhandle Golf Association which is a part of the Nebraska Golf Association. A few years back he was made a Lifetime Member of the Nebraska Golf Association. Did I mention he constructed the little score board that stands outside the Pro Shop at the Four, Winds?

Bruce was an outstanding player as well and was state runner up one year while playing in the State Sands Green Tournament. Golfers get excited about scoring a hole-in-one. Bruce had 9 of them!

I remember well the day Bruce and his golfing partners waved me through on number 8 hole and I chipped in a 60 yard shot for an Eagle. Bruce calmly informed me, and the group, "When a golf ball wants to go in the hole you can't keep it out."

Thank you, Bruce, for all you have done for Kimball and for the sport of golf. You truly are, and always will be, the King of Golf in Kimball.