J. Kimball Whitney, a former USGA Executive Committee member, died Monday at 83 after battling a long illness.
The Wayzata, Minn., resident served on the USGA Executive Committee from 1980 through 1986. He also served on 11 other USGA committees, chairing the Bob Jones Award Committee from 1982 through 1985 and the Junior Championship Committee in 1984 and 1985.
Born Sept. 1, 1927 in St. Cloud, Minn., Whitney developed a lifelong passion for golf after taking up the game at age 10. He grew up in St. Cloud and graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., in 1946; he graduated from Williams College four years later. He played on the Williams golf team and was on the U.S. Army golf squad when he served during the Korean War.
Whitney served as commissioner of economic development for the state of Minnesota under Gov. Harold LeVander from 1967 to 1971. In 1973, Whitney, an Eagle Scout, was honored with the Silver Buffalo, the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor. As president of Whitney Land Company, he oversaw 35 farms in Minnesota.
Whitney leaves his wife of 56 years, Helen; three children, David Whitney, Lucy Standish and Kimmy Whitney; and six grandchildren. He also leaves his sister, Sally Pillsbury, and his brother, Wheelock.
A memorial service is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1200 Marquette Ave., Minneapolis. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Children’s Home Society and Family Services, 1605 Eustis Street, St. Paul, MN, 55108; or Northern Star Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 5300 Glenwood Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55422.