| School: Jefferson | Graduation Year: 1960 |
Year Inducted: 2017
Sports Played: Basketball, Track and Field
High School Honors: 2-year Basketball letterman. 1st Team All-PIL as a Senior; 2nd Team All-PIL as a Junior. PIL Championship team as a Junior; 5th place State finisher as a Senior.
2-year Track & Field letterman. PIL and State High Jump Champion as a Junior. 1st Place in the PIL High Jump Relays and Hayward Relays.
Post High School Career: 2 years at Clark College, lettered in Basketball. Licensed Barber and Stylist at a popular salon in Eugene until his death in March 1985.
Commentary:
(Provided by family members)
Only his family can know, connect, and appreciate the intimacy and the history leading to this honoring of Wilbur. Wilbur was an ordinary child that enjoyed his friends, his neighborhood; climbing an occasional chestnut tree and even chasing an illusive rabbit that wandered into the neighborhood. No one could have known that all that early running may have helped lead him to the PIL Hall of Fame.
One of the most valuable lessons that High School Sports taught Wilbur was the value of teamwork, how to get along with each teammate even though they may not have been from his neighborhood, did not worship the same way or even look the way he looked—all played important roles. That hard work and practice prepared him for the disciplines of life. The memories of the awesome events and trips will last with our family a lifetime.
We are celebrating the results of Wilbur’s enthusiasm, late hours, and hard work—where the disciplines were born for athletics as well as academics and spiritual life. He learned that there are things larger than ourselves worth the investment, not expecting anything other than self-fulfillment.