By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
When going through the list of legendary high school athletes that competed in Barton County, it is hard not to start with Billy Kimble. Kimble was a 1965 graduate of Hoisington High School that earned 12 gold medals at the Kansas State High School Activities Association track meet in his career.
Hoisington High School Principal Joel Mason made the recommendation that was
approved by the USD 431 Board of Education to rename the track at HHS to “Bill Kimble Track.”
"Growing up and going through school here, I've always heard of Bill Kimble," said Mason. "He's portrayed as a legend here with his abilities to perform on the track."
The Hoisington Invitational in April will be renamed the “Bill Kimble
Invitational” going forward.
Kimble holds two school and state records that will never be broken in the 100-yard and 200-yard dash. Those races were switched to meters in 1979.
Kimble passed away in December 2019 in Larned after
working at the Larned State Hospital for 33 years. Billy and his wife Beverly
had six children.
"A lot of his family members came to Hoisington for the Labor Day Celebration this year," said Mason. "I spoke with them and was told he had nine gold medals. I went to the KSHSAA website and did some research and found he won 12 gold medals."
Kimble is still one of the most decorated track athletes in state history,
winning state gold medals in the 100-yard dash, 200-yard dash, 180-yard hurdles and
medley relay his sophomore, junior and senior year.
The football field at Hoisington is named after Kimble’s track coach Elton
Brown and similar signage will be posted on the press box commemorating “Bill
Kimble Track.”
Mason added the school district will also work on a plaque to display Kimble’s
accomplishments.