Bob Kildall has been a Magnolia resident since 1965. He has been active in many civic endeavors, and those that remain in Magnolia's historic record include the 50th anniversary celebration of the Ballard Locks (headed by Bob for the Magnolia Community Club); the founding of Friends of Discovery Park; and the acquisition of Commodore Park.
As a Magnolia Community Club past president and board member, Kildall worked on land issues that shaped Magnolia. His activism with Don Voorhees in the formation of Discovery Park was stellar, and even more outstanding is Kildall's unwavering adherence to the central purpose and primary function of Discovery Park.
That role should be to provide an open space of quiet and tranquility for the citizens of this city-a sanctuary where they might escape the turmoil of the city and enjoy the rejuvenation that quiet and solitude and an intimate contact with nature can bring.
Kildall has spent 30 years creating a life's history illustrating the fact that he has taken seriously the part of the Kiley Plan that warned: In the years to come there will be almost irresistible pressure to carve out areas of the park in order to provide sites for various civic structures or space for special activities for which, it will be contended, this park can provide an ideal site at no cost. The pressures for those sites may constitute the greatest single threat to Discovery Park. They must be resisted with resolution.
All of us who know Bob Kildall are aware of his resolution-some call it plain old stubbornness.
The Thomas O. Wimmer Award for continuous, long-term dedicated service to maintaining and enhancing environmental quality is the state award that means the most to Kildall.
He is an author in "Magnolia: Memories & Milestones" and is writing for the second volume of this history book. He has been a champion of Kiwanis Ravine as an open space and wildlife corridor. Kildall also served as president of the citizens advisory board for the Park Department.
However, he is most famous for his unfailing collections of clippings, letters, writings (his and others) and discussions on many Magnolia issues; the historical value of that work is priceless.
As a researcher who has benefited from Kildall's personal stash and/or his archive at the University of Washington, I can only thank him for his deep sense of place and glorious historical bent. His collections have enriched my historical work of Magnolia mightily.[[In-content Ad]]
