Keith Gilbertson Sr. inducted into WIAA Hall of Fame

Keith Gilbertson Sr. took his place among the greats of  Washington high school athletics on Wednesday with his posthumous induction into the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association Hall of Fame.

Keith Gilbertson Sr.’s latest hall of fame plaque. (Keith Olson photo)

Honored for 61 years of service as a coach at Snohomish High School, including the last 31 as an unpaid volunteer  assistant in football  and basketball prior to his death in 2011, Gilby went in with eight others in the WIAA  hall’s 10th class of inductees at a luncheon Wednesday in the Renton Pavilion Event Center.

Former University of Washington and Seahawks coach Keith Gilbertson Jr. represented his dad at the presentation and also paid tribute to his late mother, Eileen Gilbertson, for her lifetime of support for a man who simply loved sports as well as all the kids and fellow teachers and coaches with whom he worked.

Others in attendance included Gilby Jr.’s wife Barbara, brothers Jim and Jay Gilbertson, Snohomish School District Athletic Director Mark Albertine and longtime Mount Baker High teacher and coach Jim Freeman, who helped Albertine prepare the hall of fame nomination.

Among other career honors, Gilbertson was previously inducted into the Washington State Coaches Association Football Hall of Fame, the WSCA Cross Country Hall of Fame, the Snohomish County Sports Hall of Fame, the SHS Hall of Fame and the John R. Wooden Coaches’ Wall of Honor.

Also honored Wednesday was SHS senior Tanner Perry, who received one of the two inaugural Smart Choices Scholarships ($5,000) presented by the WIAA, Les Schwab Tires and the Dairy Farmers of Washington.  Perry, who intends to play football and golf at Pacific Lutheran University while pursuing a career in special education,  is also one of two SHS seniors named to receive this year’s Keith Gilbertson Sr. Memorial Scholarship administered by the Snohomish Education Foundation.

Keith Jr., Jim and Jay Gilbertson pose with their father’s portrait at the WIAA Hall of Fame induction luncheon. (Keith Olson photo)