Kenneth B. "Kenn" Gilchrist passed away on March 9, 2017 from injuries suffered in November of 2016.  Surviving is his wife Veronica (Ronnie), six children, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.  Kenn's life was lived in the service of others from serving his country to serving his community.  He was active in the Boys Town National Alumni Association as a member and in leadership positions.  Kenn was a regular attendee at almost every biennial and mini-reunion of the BTNAA, sang in the alumni choir and represented Boys Town in the best way possible.  His caring manner, generous spirit and joyous love for life will be remembered by generations of Boys Town alumni who had the pleasure to get to know him.  He will be missed by all.

The following biography was published in the 2016 Boys Town Booster Banquet program when Kenn was inducted into the Boys Town Alumni Sports Hall of Fame.

KENNETH B. GILCHRIST, CLASS OF 1965, arrived at Boys Town on January 22, 1959, from Cleveland, Ohio. Gilchrist, a natural athlete, took to Boys Town’s sports programs quite easily. He was a leader in Boys Town’s program of self-government, serving as a Commissioner in his senior year. He pursued a course of general studies, sang in the Concert Choir and was a member of the Pep Club and a cheerleader as a senior.
 

Gilchrist immersed himself fully in all aspects of competitive sports during high school. He earned three varsity letters in football and one in track and wrestling, and earned minor letters in football, basketball and track. His leadership and tenacious play as the football team’s center earned him a spot on the Omaha All-Metro All-Star team as a junior. In his senior year, he was a unanimous selectee to the Nebraska All- State football team for his outstanding performance on both offense and defense. He was also named a High School  All-American by Scholastic Magazine at the center position in 1964.  It was noted by local sportswriters after the 1964 season that he "was the state’s best linebacker and a crisp blocker." Even with all his participation in sports, Gilchrist found time to tour with the Concert Choir and worked diligently to develop his vocal skills, an endeavor that would serve him well later in life.
 

Upon graduation, Gilchrist attended the University of Wyoming on a football scholarship. After his freshman year, with the Vietnam conflict escalating, he joined the United States Marine Corps. During his second tour of duty in Vietnam, he was severely wounded while on a combat patrol and returned to the states, where he was medically discharged from the Marines. Gilchrist spent a number of years in California singing opera professionally and as part of the famous San Francisco Opera Company. Returning to Wyoming, he completed his college degree and entered the field of social work, eventually becoming a state parole agent.
 

Now retired, Gilchrist and his wife Veronica reside in Akron, Ohio, where they live in an old home they lovingly restored. The Gilchrists are the proud parents of six children and have eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Gilchrist is active in prison ministry, coaches little league football and works with his church as an elder. He is also preparing to produce a play he wrote about his early childhood before he went to Boys Town. Gilchrist is a Lifetime Member of the Boys Town National Alumni Association and a member of the Association’s Board of Directors.