Kirk Kiger Wins 2012 Gerry Hall Service Award

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Longtime Wee Elks coach and volunteer, Kirk Kiger, has been selected as the 2012 Gerry Hall Service Award winner.  He will be honored at halftime of the Varsity boys basketball game against Alter on Tuesday, January 15 at Centerville High School.

Kirk began coaching with the Wee Elks in 1999 when his twin sons, Bryan and Brandon, were in 2nd grade.  He continued to coach them until they went to the middle school team in 2004.  During the next two years, he drove out to Schoolhouse Park every game day during his lunch period to set up the field for the 7th and 8th grade games because his sons were a part of the team.  He did this even if his sons' games were away that night.  He often stayed to help clean up and could be found working the chain gang, running the scoreboard, announcing the games, or helping out in the concession stand if he was needed because that is the type of person he is.  

When his sons went to Centerville High School in 2006, Kirk decided to do another tour of duty with the Wee Elks and began coaching a team at the Bantam level.  He stayed with that team all the way through their sixth grade season of 2011 before deciding to call it a career.  

Besides coaching within the Wee Elks programs, Kirk devoted many years on the Wee Elks Board where he served as a WOJFC league representative and also as vice president.  He  spent so many hours at the fields coaching, working the concession stand, and setting up and tearing down the field for games that his wife commented "Kirk was at Schoolhouse Park more than he was at home."  He even bought the material and built the press box which now sits on the North field at Schoolhouse Park.

Besides coaching within the Wee Elks program, Kirk spent many hours coaching all three of his boys, Brad, Bryan, and Brandon in baseball and Hustle basketball from 1999-2006.  He helped coach the Sidewinders select baseball team and spent countless hours at State Farm Park in Kettering as well as many other places coaching the game of baseball.  

When all three boys went to Centerville High School, Kirk's volunteering did not stop as he became heavily involved with the Quarterback Club.  He helped out at their annual golf outing, drove players all over Centerville selling value cards on Blitz day, and helped the Mother's Club at the 4th of July Pancake Breakfast by helping to set up as well as tear things down.

Kirk's wife, Pat, said it is hard to remember all of the little things Kirk has done over his many years of volunteering, but she did say that "even though Kirk's years of service did not match Gerry Hall's, he certainly shared his enthusiasm for and love of Centerville Schools Athletics as well as the community's recreational sports programs."  

As the winner of this award, Kirk will have his name inscribed on the plaque that hangs in the Athletic Entrance of Centerville High School as well as becoming a member of the selection committee for future award winners.  He will also be given a check for $1,000 to be donated to a program of his choosing.  Kirk will be presenting the check to Centerville High School Athletic Director Rob Dement so that the school may purchase the IMPACT testing programs to help protect our student-athletes from returning too early from a concussion.  He said that since his boys had concussions during their athletic careers that he felt it was something he could and should do to help our future generations of athletes stay as safe as possible.

Kirk Kiger is a true champion in every sense of the word.  He is a very deserving recipient of this award and is a shining example of what volunteer service is all about.