A crowd of friends, family, and community members came to Kaskaskia College on Saturday to celebrate the career and legacy of KC Board of Trustees Chairman Bill Hawley at the dedication of Bill Hawley Court in the college’s new gymnasium. Hawley was honored over decades of service to the college as a trustee, his support of student athletes, and his work as a sports broadcaster with WJBD Radio.
Several speakers at the event gave remarks on Hawley’s impact. His nephew, Kent Hawley, talked about how Bill has helped the people around him.
“I think that’s Uncle Bill’s legacy,” Kent Hawley said. “Whether it’s through sports and showcasing what athletes do, whether it’s through his work with the college, or providing resources for young people to map out their futures, there’s been an optimism, and he’s helping people get what they need.”
KC President George Evans said that Hawley’s leadership on the board of trustees has been invaluable to the college.
“For four decades he served on the board of trustees, including over 20 as chairman, through times of growth, challenge, budget impasse… He’s been through it all, but he’s always been there for the students,” Evans said. “His leadership has helped guide the college forward, expanding opportunities, strengthening programs, and ensuring education remains accessible and impactful for generations to come.”
Hawley himself expressed his thanks for the honor and talked about how the new facilities would be helpful to students.
“Thank you very much,” Hawley said. “I hope you appreciate this beautiful facility. It’s not only the gymnasium; it’s this entranceway, the parking lot, the training rooms and the facilities that we have built into this gymnasium for our student athletes… I had somebody say, ‘it looks like you’ve got new buildings everywhere.’ We don’t have new buildings, but they’re all remodeled. They’ve all been put up-to-date and made so our students can get the best possible education.”
Hawley encouraged those interested in supporting the college to donate to the Kaskaskia College Foundation. Donations designated for the Bill Hawley Student Success Fund provide flexible funding to help KC students who face unexpected financial barriers.
Photo by Bruce Kropp.
Kent Hawley addresses the audience at the ceremony. Photo by Austin Williams.
Bill Hawley speaks at the ceremony. Photo by Austin Williams.
