The Roy Kilby Youth Sports Endowment Fund was established by Roy’s family to honor his legacy. The endowment will provide funds for sports equipment to youth programs in Columbia City.
When he wasn’t teaching PE or coaching at Marshall Middle School, chances are you could find Roy Kilby down at DeVol Field, making sure that any kid who wanted to play ball had the chance. Long before tennis courts dotted the area, DeVol Field was bustling with youngsters on ball diamonds, enjoying the games ran by Kilby. “Roy always had a collection of old baseball gloves and bats for anyone who needed the equipment,” remembered Jack Horn who volunteered with Kilby in the 70s. “Back then it cost $2 to play and that included the ball cap. He had a genuine soft spot for kids and no one was ever turned away.” Many people also fondly remember Mr. Kilby’s offer of a free snowcone to anyone who tracked down a foul ball.
A gifted athlete himself, Kilby led Muncie Burris to two sectional titles in basketball and to a semi-state title in 1939. He led scorers for four years in high school and was considered the best small back guard ever produced in East Central Indiana. He went on to play baseball for four years and basketball for three years at Indiana University in a career interrupted ;by World War II. In addition to serving hi country, Kilby coached at Columbia City for five years and was a junior high coach for 28 years. He was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1986.
Through this endowment Roy Kilby’s legacy will impact youth through sports for generations to come.
