Person Record
Metadata
Name |
Kilgour, Donald Campbell (1915-2010) |
Born |
May 3, 1915 |
Birthplace |
Lovell, ME |
Places of Residence |
Lovell, ME |
Father |
James C. Kilgour Jr. |
Mother |
Olive (Warren) Benton Kilgour |
Education |
Fryeburg Academy (class president all 4 years) Univ. of Maine BS Mechanical engr. |
Notes |
Married Oct 30, 1937 Buried at Cemetery No. 4. Taken from the Winter 2009 Newsletter, written by Catherine Stone: Maine Baseball Hall of Famer Donald Kilgour was born and raised in Lovell. After graduating from college in 1937, where he was hailed as "Orono’s long and lean southpaw star" and "the crafty Pale Hose lefty", he began a promising diamond career as a pitcher. Unfortunately, his professional career ended abruptly in 1939 when he suffered a severe shoulder injury. Don was born May 3, 1915 in an upstairs apartment above what is now the Masonic Hall. His parents, Olive (Benton) and James C. Kilgour, Jr. were prominent members of the community, active in many local organizations including the Lovell Village Congregational Church. They purchased a house on Christian Hill Road, kitty-corner from the church, and raised their only child. Don’s father was adept at many professions, from storekeeper to mail carrier and from ice cutter to stone mason. He was also a ball player and in his spare time he played catch with his son in the backyard. In a 2000 interview, Don recalled playing ball in Lovell. "We played in a cow pasture," he said. "One of the men in the sawmill made a home plate for us. One of us was assigned to take care of the plate. You can guess what we used for first, second and third bases (cow patties). You would go home with green stain on your pants. It might be grass or it might not be." Under the tutelage of Fryeburg Academy’s Coach Cliff Gray, Don learned his two best pitches: curveball and forkball (which is like today’s split finger fastball). He went on to play at the University of Maine from 1934-1937, contributing to a State Championship in 1936. During the summers he played the Maine semi-pro circuit and his "poise and stylish delivery" caught the eye of professional scouts. In February, 1938 Don signed with the Dallas, Texas farm club of the Chicago White Sox. He was later assigned to the Rayne, Louisiana club in the Evangeline League. During the summer of 1938 he pitched 199 innings and completed a no-hit, no-run masterpiece in the process. In the winter of 1939, his contract was purchased by the Cleveland Indians and he was assigned to Shreveport in the Texas League—a jump of three minor league steps from a Class D to a Class A organization. His ascending career ended quickly, however, when he pulled a tendon in his left pitching shoulder that summer. Don returned to Maine and, thanks to a degree in mechanical engineering, made a new career with Central Maine Power. He and his wife settled in Rockland and visited Lovell often. He has fond memories of his youth and his days as a "twirler" when he could throw a ball past some of the best hitters in the country. "I really think I could have made it," he said of a major league career, "but it has all gone by. It is nice to dream. It sure would have been nice, but fate wasn’t that way. I had a good time and a wonderful experience." |
Occupation |
Worked for Central Maine Power Co. District Manager |
Spouse |
Barbara (Lancaster) Kilgour |
Children |
Bruce Kilgour James Kilgour |
Deceased |
June 11, 2010 |
Deceased Where |
Rockport, ME |
Titles & honors |
Inducted into State of Maine Baseball Hall of Fame US Army veteran WW II |
Related Records
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1915 Picnic with McAllisters - 2002.11.0015
Picnic around 1915. From left to right: Helena McAllister, Dan McAllister, Mattie McAllister, James Kilgour. Front: Don Kilgour. Back: Wellington McAllister. Taken from Photo CD #1.
Record Type: Photo
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1916 Ford Touring Car - 2002.11.0009
1916 Ford Touring Car with Donald Kilgour inside, Age 3, about 1918. Taken from Photo CD #1.
Record Type: Photo
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Annie Heald Class Photo, 1925 or 1926 - 1991.01.0008
Class photo from Annie Heald School, taken in 1925 or 1926. On the back is written: "Missing when picture taken - Melvin Allen (broken arm), Cyrus Littlefield, Alfred Burnell. Mom was in 8th grade." Those identified in picture are, front: Curtis Brooks, Donald Kilgour, Kennath Merrill, Merle Cushman, George Therrault, unknown.. middle: Katherine McAllister, Catherine Davey, Olive Eastman, May Harmon, Margaret Bell, Thursa Brown, Helene Sea...
Record Type: Photo
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Annie Heald School Photo, 1929 - 2003.15.0001
School photo of Annie Heald School, circa 1929. Some of the students are identified, and some identifications are questionable. There is a note behind the picture with the identifications. Back row, left to right: unknown, Guptil, Olive Palmer, Margaret Bell, Marguerite Allen. In front: Marsha H?, Catherine MCallister, unknown, unknown, Marcia Plummer. Middle row, left to right: Richard Ring, Gordon Eastman, Don Kilgour, Henry Severance, ...
Record Type: Photo
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Births 1892 -1939 - 1974.02.0686
Index and photocopy of Lovell's births from 1892 through 1939. Located in a notebook titled "Births Deaths 1892-1939 Vital Statistics 1910-1945." A photocopy of the book can be found in the archival box "Lovell Vital Records Box 3."
Record Type: Archive
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Donald Kilgour, 1936 - 2009.03.0039
Donald Kilgour in 1936. Accompanying the photo is the following comment: "Leaving for College his senior year. Sept. 20, 1936. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour, Age 6, Playing Catch - 2009.03.0036
Donald Kilgour, age 6, playing catch with his dad. The photo is dated May 3, 1920. The Brick Church in Lovell Village is in the background. Taken from Photo CD #5. Used in the Winter 2009 Newsletter.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour as a Child With a Rifle - 2002.11.0091
Donald Kilgour with a rifle. Taken from Photo CD #1.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour & Father, 1915 - 2009.03.0015
Two photos of Donald Kilgour with his father, James, when he was three months old in 1915. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour & Merle Cushman - 2009.03.0037
Donald Kilgour and Merle Cushman dressed up as cowboys in 1922. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour & Mother, 1915 - 2009.03.0017
Donald Kilgour, age three months, with his mother in 1915. Note the old bandstand in the background, which is no longer standing. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour on a Sled, 9 Months Old - 2009.03.0018
Four photos of Don Kilgour on a sled with his mother or father when he was nine months old. In the first photo you can see in the background the following: "On left is the Post Office and on right is Tote Bassett's Store & Barber Shop." Tote was the nickname for Walter C. Bassett. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour on a Sled With His Mother - 2002.11.0090
Donald Kilgour on a sled with his mother, Olive Kilgour. Taken from Photo CD #1.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour & Parents, 1915 - 2009.03.0016
Donald Kilgour in 1915 with his mother and father. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour Pitching at Fryeburg Academy, 1933 - 2009.03.0038
Two photos of Donald Kilgour in 1933 when he was a baseball pitcher at Fryeburg Academy. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour Playing Baseball for the University of Maine - 2008.73.0006
Donald Kilgour when he was playing baseball at the University of Maine, Orono. The photo was used in the publication "The Lovell News" with the following caption: "Donald C. Kilgour was born May 3, 1915 in an apartment above what is now the VFW Hall. He grew up in a house on Christian Hill Road and became an accomplished baseball player. After graduating from Fryeburg Academy, he went on to pitch for the University of Maine’s baseball team from ...
Record Type: Photo
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Donald Kilgour Playing for the Chicago White Sox Organization - 2009.03.0008
Donald Kilgour wearing his baseball uniform in Longview, Texas in 1938. He had signed with the Dallas Texas farm club of the Chicago White Sox in February of that year. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
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Don & James Kilgour, 1916 - 2009.03.0022
Don Kilgour with his father in 1916. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
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Don Kilgour, 1917 - 2009.03.0026
Don Kilgour taking a ride on a sled filled with logs, dated January 1917. Taken from Photo CD #5.
Record Type: Photo
