|
Cecil “Filly” Gilkerson
Contributor  “H-burg’s a great town for recreation” was the caption of a recent letter to the editor from a Harrisonburg citizen in the local newspaper. The letter concluded with the sentence “thanks to Harrisonburg’s leaders past and present for providing us with one of the best parks and recreation programs anywhere.” Cecil Gilkerson is the person most responsible for that statement.Mr. Gilkerson arrived in Harrisonburg in 1954 to begin work as Director of Parks and Recreation, though at that time there were few parks and little in the way of organized sports or recreational activities. Cecil worked diligently to acquire many parcels of land in the city that were then transformed into the beautiful system of parks, paths and trails the citizens enjoy today. Along with excellent facilities, Cecil worked to create strong sports programs for the youth of Harrisonburg. Little league baseball, Midget league football, Armory league basketball and cheerleading squads provided wholesome activity while adult volunteer coaches served as positive leaders and role models for those participating in the sports. These sports programs proved beneficial to the athletic programs at Harrisonburg High School as young athletes developed their skills participating in recreational programs. Mr. Gilkerson saw to the construction of 16 tennis courts scattered over various locations in the city, and the recreation department offered excellent instruction to players of all ages. Because of this, Harrisonburg High School won numerous state team championships in both boys and girls, and individual competitors won state championships in singles and doubles. Cecil attended Bridgewater College as a freshman in 1944-45 and played baseball and basketball. He then enrolled at Catawba College, graduating in 1949. At 305 South Dogwood Drive in the city is a complex known officially as the Cecil F. Gilkerson community activities. To the people of Harrisonburg it is simply “the rec center.” |