Warren Kilbourne
{{Short description|American football player (1916–1967)}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Warren Kilbourne
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| number = 58, 41
| position = Tackle
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|6|20|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1967|5|16|1916|6|20|mf=y}}
| death_place = Ramsey County, Minnesota, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 3
| weight_lb = 240
| high_school = Humboldt
(Saint Paul, Minnesota)
| college = Minnesota (1935–1938)
| undraftedyear = 1939
| pastteams =
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1939|1940}})
- →Kenosha Cardinals (1939)
- →St. Louis Gunners (1940)
- Buffalo Indians (1940)
- New York Yankees (1940)
- Cincinnati Bengals (1941)
| highlights =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 4
| pfr = KilbWa20
}}
Warren William Kilbourne (June 20, 1916 – May 16, 1967) was an American professional football tackle. He played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers and then played three seasons professionally. He was a member of the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL), the Kenosha Cardinals, Buffalo Indians, New York Yankees and Cincinnati Bengals of the American Football League (AFL), and the St. Louis Gunners.
Early life
Kilbourne was born on June 20, 1916, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KilbWa20.htm|title = Warren Kilbourne Stats|website = Pro Football Reference|access-date=April 25, 2025}} His father served as the director of physical education in the Saint Paul public schools system.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/171071542/|newspaper=Star Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 17, 1936|page=23|title='Morning, Sir|author=Beebe, Bob}} {{Open access}} He attended Humboldt High School where he competed in three sports and received seven varsity letters, three each in football and basketball, and one in baseball.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/171071709/|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 30, 1939|page=21|title=Warren Kilbourne, 230 Pounds, Among Packers' Biggest}} {{Open access}} He played football as a tackle, basketball as a forward, and baseball as a first baseman. After high school, Kilbourne enrolled at the College of St. Thomas, where he attended half a year before transferring to the University of Minnesota.
College career
Kilbourne joined Minnesota in 1935 and was a member of the freshman football team that year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/k/kilb00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|access-date=April 25, 2025|title=Wally Kilbourne Stats}} The Star Tribune described him as "the energetic type of lineman who seems to enjoy his work. He's powerful and ... gets around with pleasing quickness." Although he was not a standout for the freshman team, he impressed in practices as a sophomore and made the varsity team in 1936. He contributed to the team's 7–1 record and national championship in the 1936 season.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/171072236/|newspaper=Star Tribune|author=Barton, George|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 28, 1937|page=16|title=Sportographs}} {{Open access}}{{cite web|title=1936 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=November 1, 2017|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/minnesota/1936-schedule.html}} He received a letter for the 1936 season and remained with the varsity team in 1937 and 1938, being a starter at right tackle as a senior.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-cloud-times/171072502/|newspaper=St. Cloud Times|via=Newspapers.com|date=November 2, 1938|page=13|title=Gophers Polish Passes For Hawkeyes; Injuries Hamper Drills This Week|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}} He helped Minnesota win the Big Ten Conference championship in the 1937 and 1938 seasons.{{cite web|title=1937 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=November 1, 2017|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/minnesota/1937-schedule.html}}{{cite web|title=1938 Minnesota Golden Gophers Schedule and Results|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|work=SR/College Football|access-date=November 1, 2017|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/minnesota/1938-schedule.html}} In his collegiate career, he was always used on the right side of the line, and in addition to tackle, also saw action at guard as a senior in 1938.
Professional career
Kilbourne signed with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) in June 1939.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-journal/171072714/|newspaper=The Minneapolis Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=June 8, 1939|page=19|title=12 Gophers Set For Pro Grids}} {{Open access}} At {{convert|230|lb|kg}} and {{convert|6|ft|2|in}}, he was one of the largest players on the team. He appeared in four games as a backup during the 1939 season before being released by the Packers near the end of October.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette/171072851/|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 27, 1939|page=17|title=Packers Leave Tomorrow for Milwaukee Grid Game}} {{Open access}} The Packers went on to win the 1939 NFL Championship. After being released by the Packers, Kilbourne concluded the 1939 season with the minor league Kenosha Cardinals, appearing in six games.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal/171072958/|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 30, 1939|page=13|title=Kenosha Gains First League Victory 21-0 Over Tanks}} {{Open access}} He initially returned to the Packers for the 1940 season, but was then sent to the St. Louis Gunners after not making the team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/transactions/k/kilb00200.html|website=Pro Football Archives|access-date=April 25, 2025|title=Wally Kilbourne Transactions}} At the start of the 1940 season, the Gunners played a charity practice game, but did not pay their players for it.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kenosha-news/171073285/|newspaper=Kenosha News|via=Newspapers.com|date=September 9, 1940|page=8|title=Chiefs Scalp Gunners, 60-0}} {{Open access}} Kilbourne, upset at not being paid, led a strike that resulted in him and two others quitting the team.
In October 1940, Kilbourne signed with the Buffalo Indians of the American Football League (AFL).{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/brooklyn-eagle/171073409/|newspaper=Brooklyn Eagle|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 4, 1940|page=15|title=Buffalo Signs Kilbourne|agency=Associated Press}} {{Open access}} He did not appear in any games for the Indians and that same season joined the New York Yankees, appearing in two games for them. In 1941, he played for the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFL.
Later life and death
After his stint with the Bengals, Kilbourne joined the United States Army and served 18 months, stationed at Fort Knox, before being discharged due to illness.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post/171073803/|newspaper=The Cincinnati Post|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 25, 1943|page=2|title=Former Pro Gridder Released to Father}} {{Open access}} By 1949, he was working part-time at the University of Minnesota.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-tribune/171073993/|newspaper=Star Tribune|via=Newspapers.com|date=February 4, 1949|page=21|title=Big Grey Eagle Center Headed for Gophers|author=S. H.}} {{Open access}} He died on May 16, 1967, in Ramsey County, Minnesota, aged 50.
References
{{reflist}}
{{1936 Minnesota Golden Gophers football navbox}}
{{1939 Green Bay Packers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kilbourne, Warren}}
Category:Players of American football from Saint Paul, Minnesota
Category:Green Bay Packers players