Kyle Gilliam

Kyle, son of Mick & Donna Gilliam, was a fine young man who was always active in sports, but his passion was football. He served as captain of the 1996 Willow Springs High School Bears football team, a team which won the SCA title outright for the first time in 44 years. His friends and family believe his election as captain was a testament to his leadership and example. While he was “all boy”, he never did anything to bring ridicule or shame to himself, his family, his school, or God.

Kyle was a voracious reader. He had been known to take a book into the shower with him and read while showering. As you might guess by this interest in reading, he was very intelligent. But he didn’t always use his intelligence to the greatest benefit in the classroom. Kyle always wanted to balance his studies with hanging out with his friends. The thing which his parents are probably proudest of was Kyle’s faith in God. He was faithful to his Church all his life, and was always quick to discuss his faith in his Sunday School classes. Just weeks before his death he wrote an essay for his English class which spoke of his certainty of the existence of God. It’s a paper which his parents will always cherish.

In the words of his football coach, Steve Ary, “Kyle honored his family, his school, his community, and his church.” He was everything his parents wanted in a son.