Good Citizen: Louis K. Gillson

[photo caption] Louis K. Gillson, first president of the Wilmette Park District, and one of the early members of the high school board of education, had, during the 39 years he lived in Wilmette, a record of distinguished civic achievement. [article] A native of Ohio, and a patent attorney by profession, Mr. Gillson moved to Wilmette in 1903. Five years later when the park district was established, Mr. Gillson was chosen president, and continued in that capacity until his retirement in 1934. In 1909 he was elected to the high school board and remained a member of that body until 1921. It was during his period of service on the board that the high school acquired a large amount of surrounding vacant land. The property purchased at that time has since been used for new buildings and athletic fields. Mr. Gillson is generally given credit for the foresight to buy the land before the Indian Hill section became heavily residential. Mrs. Gillson died at the age of 90 in 1942.