Joseph Hilbe - Athletics

Athletics

Known as Joe Hilbe when involved with athletics, Hilbe won the National AAU Pentathlon Championships in 1968 and 1978. He was also listed in the Track & Field News World List rankings in the 100 yards (9.4, 1967) and 400 meters (45.9, 1965). Hilbe set Hawaii state records in the 100 meters (10.40, 1973) and the Javelin (257'7"), which is still the recognized state mark. Hilbe served as National Chair for AAU Girl's Junior Olympic Track & Field from 1979-1982, and was Head Women's Track & Field coach at the University of Hawaii from 1979 to 1985. His foremost athletes were Gwen Loud, 1984 NCAA Division 1 Long Jump Champion (6.72/22'5¾") and a member of the U.S. team to the first International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Helsinki, 1983, and Gwen Gardner, second at the 1980 U.S. Olympic Trials 400 meters, earning a berth on the Olympic team that boycotted the Moscow Olympic Games. As assistant men's coach at the University of Hawaii (1973-1977), Hilbe coached Terry Albritton, who broke the Shot Put world record (21.85/71'8½") in 1976, and won numerous AAU and NCAA titles. Hilbe was elected to serve as a U.S. team coach and manager during the 1980s for several major competitions in the U.S., Australia/New Zealand, the Caribbean, and in Europe.

Hilbe was a member of the founding committee that formed the National Track & Field Officials Association in 1977. He was a lead competition official and IAAF technical official at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and was hired by Turner Broadcasting System to serve as Athletics Broadcast Coordinator for the 1990 Goodwill Games held in Seattle, WA.