Don C. Wilhelm

Don C. Wilhelm was born on August 31, 1939 in Great Bend, Kansas and was taken to be with his Savior on January 4, 2024, at the age of 84.
Don's faith in Jesus Christ and commitment to live a life that honored God was evident in how he spoke and in everything he did. Don was known for his integrity, strong convictions, excellent leadership, loyalty, faithfulness to family and friends, as well as fun-loving with a silly side that was always memorable. He made a difference every where he went and left a lasting legacy.
Preceding him in death were his parents Clarence and Lillian (Gisick) Wilhelm; his in-laws, Glenn and Lillian Johnson; his Son-in-law, Brent Heaton. He is survived by his wife Mary L. Wilhelm of Brenham and recently moved to Granbury, and their daughters Kathy Sanders, Kelly Johnson, her husband Vince, Nacogdoches; Kim Wagner, her husband Mark, Granbury and grandchildren Alix Johnson, Chandler Dean, her husband David, Luke Heaton, his wife Madeline, Grace Kerbel, her husband Ethan and great grandsons, Clayton, Owen and Walker.
Mary and Don were married on January 22, 1961 in Messiah Lutheran Church in Emporia, Kansas. Don grew up in Russell, Kansas and graduated from Russell High School in 1957 where he was an Eagle Scout, selected to the Order of the Arrow, President of the Key Club, member of the student council and an athlete in football, basketball and track; and an active member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. He is a 1961 graduate of Emporia State University in Emporia, honorary campus leadership organization. He earned his Master of Science in Physical
Education in 1963. His postgraduate work in the areas of Motor Learning and Psychology of Sport were done at Mankato State University; Mankato, Minnesota and Texas A&M University, Commerce.
Don coached and taught for six years in Kansas High Schools at Hope, Fredonia and Buhler. His first college basketball coaching position was at Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. His college coaching of basketball and teaching included Southwest Minnesota
State, Anoka Ramsey College, Johnson County Community College, Steven F. Austin State University, Paris Junior College and Blinn College. Don came to Blinn College as the Director of Athletics and Chairperson of the Division of Health and Kinesiology in June of 1994 and retired from Blinn College in August of 2004. While at Blinn he served as the NJCAA Region XIV Men's Director and Secretary-Treasurer of the Region XIV Athletic Conference from 1996-2003. Additionally, during those years he served as Chairman of the NJCAA Football Committee, member of the NJCAA Division I Basketball Committee, member of the NJCAA Eligibility Committee and member of the NJCAA Executive Committee. Also, his Triple "K" Basketball Scorebook was copyrighted in 1969 and his Pre-Season Basketball Conditioning articles were published in the JUCO Review (1979) and The Basketball Bulletin (Summer 1981). In 1994, he started the Athletic Honor Roll for student-athletes, which are honored and recognized for a grade point average above 3.00 in college level courses; In 2003, he was inducted into the NJCAA Football Hall of Fame. Don's other honors included: Who's Who Among America's Teachers, Wayne Rideout Athletic Training Award, Don Wilhelm MVP Award (awarded to a "Lady Bucs" Basketball player each year since 2004) and the Don and Mary Endowed Scholarship for Blinn College students. Also, he helped institute the "Dr. James H. Atkinson Cup" in 2000, which is presented to the sophomore student athlete with the highest grade-point-average; in 1998, helped organize the Buccaneer Alumni Lettermen Association; served as the chairperson of the Council of Division Chairpersons that recommended the establishment of the "Blinn College Teacher of the Year Award" on the Brenham and Bryan campuses.
In January 2010, he was presented the Ph. D Award (Pride, Honor, Dedication) by the Buccaneer Alumni Lettermen Association. On October 15, 2011 he was inducted into the Blinn College Hall of Honor. Additionally, he was inducted into the Paris Junior College Dragon Athletic Hall of Fame on November 3, 2012 and into the Buhler High School Athletic Hall of Fame with the 1967 Kansas State Class "A" Basketball Championship Team on December 7, 2012.
Don was a member of The First United Methodist Church, Brenham, where he served in many capacities as Chairman of the Stewardship Committee and served on the Administrative Board and a member of the United Methodist Men; Masonic Lodge of Russell, Kansas; former Board Member, Boys & Girls Club of Washington County; Boy Scouts-Merit Badge Counselor, served on the Buccaneer Alumni Lettermen Association Board of Directors as an ex-officio member;
President of the Blinn College Ex-Students Association; former member of the Board of Directors for the Brazos Valley Sports Foundation and the Brenham Sports Authority for six years; Washington County Chamber of Commerce; Washington County Blue Blazers; a BISD H.O.S.T.S. Mentor; Brenham Rotary Club; Past-President of the Greater Paris Rotary Club; a Paul Harris Fellow and served his country in the United States Marine Corps.
Don had many sayings he shared with his family, co-workers, athletes and friends. They were:
"You Play The Game With Your Hands and Feet; but you WIN THE GAME With Your Head and Heart" and, earn your Ph. D Everyday (Pride, Honor, Dedication).
Memorials may be made to Blinn College Athletic Department or a charity of your choice.
Services in Don's memory will be held at a later date to be announced.
Romans 8:31-39 - God's Everlasting Love
31 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died-more than that, who was raised-who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
"For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."