NOTEBOOK
Emotional book details life and times of volleyball great Kirk Kilgour
The story of Kirk Kilgour the volleyball player is nowhere near the story of Kirk Kilgour the person, and that’s saying a lot considering Kilgour was a fabulous player. “Lucky Break: A Love Story,” written by his caregiver and fi ancé Belinda Ann Begley, captures the iron will of the past UCLA All American and U.S. Men’s National Team mem- ber who became a quadriplegic in 1976 after a training accident in Italy. Kilgour was confi ned to a wheelchair until he died at age 54 in 2002, but he refused to let it slow him down. Kilgour enjoyed a multi-dimensional post-playing career that included coaching, broadcasting, acting, writing and motivational speaking. Begley takes you through an amazing and emotional journey as Kilgour casts aside self-pity and strives to be “the best quadriplegic in the world.”
where on the court,” Scates said. “He was an explosive player, who raised his teammates’ level of play.”
Kilgour spent eight years (1968-1975) with the U.S. Men’s National Team, including time spent attempting to help the team qualify for the 1972 Olympic Games. But his life changed on Jan. 8, 1976.
Kilgour bruised his spinal cord in a training accident and he remained a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. Although the injury ended his athletic career, Kilgour refused to let it diminish his enthusiasm for volleyball. He remained closely involved with the sport, serving one stint as the head men’s coach at Pepperdine University.
UCLA men’s volleyball coach Al
Scates called Kilgour one of the most inspira- tional human beings he has ever come across. Scates also said Kilgour revolutionized the outside hitter position. “Kirk was the fi rst great NCAA hitter who could attack from any-
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“I had two choices [after the accident],” Kilgour said years later, “I could feel sorry for myself or I could do something positive with my life. I left any feelings of self-pity I had behind me.”
Kilgour was honored posthumously as
one of USA Volleyball’s All-Time Great Play- ers at the annual Boyce Banquet in Phoenix in 2010.
The 264-page book published by 4th Street Press is available at
amazon.com.
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