How Hilander Hall Of Famer Leroy Faling Helped Make Me a Hilander (Alongside One Of His Best Friends — My Grandpa Jack)

It's an honor that Leroy Faling has been recognized as a Legacy Inductee in the inaugural class of the Hilander Hall Of Fame. My nomination of him this year was a heartfelt move, and while we initially overlooked his prior induction into a state-level Hall of Fame, our Advisory Board caught it just before voting commenced. Leroy isn't just a Hilander legend; he's intertwined with my family's history, especially through his friendship with my grandfather, Jack.

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The Story

Leroy and my grandfather Jack were the best of friends from their teenage years in South Kelso. A photograph from Wallace Elementary in the early 1950s captures this bond, with Leroy in the middle and Jack on the far right, on the football field where their friendship was forged. This picture, a testament to their legacy, now hangs above my twin girls' bed.
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Family Ties‍

My grandfather Jack moved to Kelso at 14, part of a migration from Commerce, Oklahoma, where his family, like Mickey Mantle's, worked in the mines. Legend has it their dad's were friends and would play catch down under. The move to Kelso, first via picking apples in the Yakima orchards, was marked by loss, as black lung disease claimed his father Chester early on. In Kelso, the Hilanders became Jack's passion, a love that ran deep in our family with my great-aunts and uncles all being Hilanders, including Jack and his brother Kirby McCoy, embedding us in the community since the late 1940s.

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A Hilander's Influence:

By the time my brother Cam and I came along in the early '80s, our family had settled in Longview, but it was Jack's affinity for the Hilanders, bolstered by his bond with Leroy, that made us Kelso Hilanders rather than R.A. Long Lumberjacks or Mark Morris Monarchs.

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Leroy's Role:

Leroy's influence in my life became tangible when he started showing up at my Hilander JV baseball starts during my 9th grade year. Later, his wisdom enriched our DECA/marketing classes, where he shared insights alongside legends like Coach Ed and Mr. John Janke.

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Reflections and Projects:

My journey took a reflective turn when, despite my accolades, including winning the National DECA Presidency and my commitment to pitch for the Washington Huskies, the journalism department chose to omit me from my 2001 senior yearbook. This decision, a stark reminder of the uphill battle I've faced throughout my life, initially felt like an erasure of my contributions to the town of Kelso. Yet, this challenge only fueled my resolve to give back, inspired by my uncle Kirby's 2012 wish for me to "help the kids of Kelso." This led to the founding of the Hilander Hall of Fame, an initiative to honor those who've shaped our community.
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Conclusion:

Introducing Leroy Faling into the Hilander Hall of Fame isn't just an honor; it's a celebration of how one person can shape a community and a family's path. His legend deserves to be told, celebrating not just his achievements in Kelso but his lasting impact across Cowlitz County. Leroy will always be of the best of Hilander nation.

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Legends Aren't Born. They're Built In Kelso.

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p.s. Yesterday in San Francisco, Ciara and I welcomed a new baby boy into our family. We named him after Leroy's great friend and my grandpa Jack. His middle name is Steven, after my best friend and uncle. Legends don't need to be raised in Kelso to be built like one.

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