If April showers bring May flowers, then what do the flowers bring? The Wildflower Run, of course! Bristowans of all ages look forward to the second Saturday in May each year when local festivities awaken within the community, and the Wildflower Run gets the community moving and active.
In addition to keeping Bristowans physically active each year, Dr. Chip Cooper and Wildflower Run organizers honor a special Bristowan whose outstanding efforts to promote health within the community create legacies for generations to come. This year, they chose the late and beloved Shannon Hilburn.
As a child, Shannon loved to run. His mother,Teresa Hilburn, recalled memories of him running in childhood, saying “Shannon liked to run and keep busy. Every day, after school, he just ran from Washington School all of the way home.” She smiled as she proudly recounted the first time he participated in the Wildflower Run back in 1988—the run’s inaugural race. As she retold his story, she proudly smiled, saying “1988 was his first time running in the Wildflower Run. He ran the first 5 years of it and won his division in all 5 years.” Shannon’s sister, Stephanie Heiliger, lightly chuckled while recalling her brother’s love of and dedication to running. She said, “Shannon always loved to run. I think he most enjoyed the challenge of it. Every time he ran, he threw up, yet he continued to push himself, run, work hard, and achieve a goal. He enjoyed the challenge.”
In fact, both Teresa and Stephanie noted that his love of running led Shannon to join the cross-country team in high school. Little did any of them know at the time that Shannon’s love would lead him to return to Bristow after college to teach and coach Bristow students, but he did just that. In doing so, his hometown came to admire and love the young man.
Both Shannon and his wife, Allison Hilburn, made their home in Bristow and taught at Bristow High School. Allison noted that because he loved both running and math, Shannon consistently utilized both to help himself be a better teacher, coach, and support for his students. She spoke of him having attended numerous training courses to learn more about track and events, having never participated in track himself. She stated that upon arriving home from those trainings, he immediately put his love of math and puzzles to work, saying “He came home and began to work out the math, fitting the pieces together like a puzzle and determining which students might excel at which events, according to their challenges and strengths. He was very good at that.”
Shannon did more than simply learn and teach, though. Allison also recalled how he ran alongside students and young children— something other coaches did not do. Where others opted to speak, Shannon chose to teach by example, “which was really unique and awesome”. She continued, saying “He was so involved in his runners’ lives, leaving a legacy of being physical, working hard, putting forth your best effort, and remaining mentally strong because running requires both physical strength and mental fortitude.” For those reasons, Allison and Shannon’s family sum up his life and work with a single word “legacy”.
To honor his legacy, the Shannon Hilburn Memorial Scholarship has been established, and the Wildflower Run and Bristow Education Foundation, BEF, have partnered to help raise funds for the scholarship. Through the partnership, wrist bands will be made available for purchase at a cost of $5 each for adults and $1 each for children and will be available for purchase at both banks prior to Saturday and at the registration table in front of the Bristow Public Library on Saturday. The bracelets come in 2 colors with each representing either Team Colby Wissel or Team Bobby Lyons, local runners, who have assisted Dr. Cooper in training area youngsters for the last 8 weeks on Wednesdays at Hafer Field. Dr. Cooper noted that $5 will be donated to the fund for every worn bracelet whose wearer completes the Wildflower Run and crosses the finish line.
In addition to the scholarship funds raised by participant bracelets, tax-deductible donations may be made directly to BEF. Contact BEF President Dr. Zeddie Cantrell at 918367-2020 or Treasurer Matt Smith at 918771-4512 to inquire about donating. To donate via mail, make checks payable to Bristow Education Foundation, Inc. with “Shannon Hilburn Scholarship” noted on the memo line, and mail to Bristow Education Foundation, P.O. Box 531, Bristow, OK, 74010.
For their parts, Shannon’s numerous family members will be participating in this year’s 36th Annual Wildflower Run in his memory and in appreciation of the Wildflower Run for honoring Shannon. His family members, who plan to participate or attend and cheer, include his wife Allison and their children Kinley, 17, and Noah, 12; his mother Teresa; his sister Stephanie, her husband Mark, and their children Zane and Belle; his brother Brian Hilburn and wife Valerie; Jerry Chalk; Kelly Hilburn; Betsy Hilburn; Kenny Hilburn; Grandma Bobbie Hilburn; Jim Chalk; Kristen Hall and sons Colby and Wyatt; Krystal Sims; and Robin Murphy.
Finally, the family wished to thank the community, Wildflower Run, and Bristow Education Foundation for honoring Shannon. Teresa choked up, saying “I’m very honored. It’s very special. Shannon always tried to give his very best to his students and to the community.This is a very well-earned tribute to him.”
Stephanie echoed the sentiment, continuing through tears “It means a lot to me. Shannon absolutely loved the community of Bristow, and the community loved him. I think it’s kind of perfect and very meaningful that they would honor him through the Wildflower Run, showing how much the community loved him, especially since he was the track and cross-country coach. It’s just such a testament to what he meant to Bristow. I’m very touched by the love shown to Shannon and his family by the Bristow community.”
Allison said “We feel very honored that he is being honored. It feels very fitting to see his legacy live on and be honored in this way.”
Run pre-registration remains online only, but participants may also register in-person at the registration table in front of the library, beginning at 7:30 a.m., Saturday morning.Tshirts, numbers, and bracelets are available for pick-up prior to Saturday at SpiritBank and at the registration table on Saturday morning.
The one-mile fun run kicks off at 8:45 a.m. with the 5K run following at 9 a.m. Dr. Cooper announced that the starting pistol will be fired by none other than Allison Hilburn.