Friends of Basketball

Henrietta Gillard

Year Inducted: 1995

Category: Friends of Basketball

Schools / Organizations:
Lincoln Community High School

Biography:

Some people called the quartet from Lincoln, the “Lincoln Crazies,” but those who know them prefer “Lincoln Ladies.”  They are easily distinguishable by their red, green, and white hats.  They happened upon them while vacationing in Frankenmuth, Michigan at Bronners’ Christmas Store.  The women say those hats have given them many hours of enjoyment and drawn compliments from fans at home and away. 

Henrietta Gillard started attending Railsplitters’ games in 1931-34, when she was a Lincoln student.   After moving to Peoria, she missed attending the games for a while.  But, returning to Lincoln in 1951, she again got involved with Lincoln basketball and remained involved until her death on March 21, 2017 at the age of 92.