Robert B. Wilhelm Distinguished Speaker Series Fund to Accept Grant Applications
The Heartland Community Foundation is proud to announce the establishment of the Robert B. Wilhelm Distinguished Speaker Series Fund, created in loving memory of Hays resident Bob Wilhelm — a distinguished veteran, writer, and lifelong learner whose passions included history, science, storytelling, and community service.
This new field of interest fund will support public programs, lectures, speaker series, exhibits, and events in Ellis County and Northwest Kansas that reflect Bob’s enduring values of learning, legacy, and community. Grants may be awarded to nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, museums, libraries, and other community groups. Priority will be given to projects that highlight history, natural sciences, military service, civic engagement, and cultural enrichment.
The Robert B. Wilhelm Distinguished Speaker Series Fund is invested with the Heartland Community Foundation to grow over time and generate grant dollars every year. Seventy-five percent of the annual spendable amount will be awarded through a competitive grant process, while twenty-five percent will be designated annually to the Hays Public Library, allowing library staff to proactively plan for programs aligned with the fund’s mission.
Bob Wilhelm, Jan. 26, 1950-Feb. 20, 2025, served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, attaining the rank of Sergeant. He later earned degrees in biology and zoology from Fort Hays State University and spent 29 years as curator at Historic Fort Hays, preserving and sharing the region’s rich history. Upon retiring, he fulfilled a longtime dream of writing fiction, authoring a trilogy titled Tales of the Sergeant Major, set in the military world of 19th-century Fort Hays.
The fund was established by Bob’s wife, Joan, and their family as a way to honor the full and meaningful life he lived — and to continue the work he loved. “Bob believed in education, service, and thoughtful conversation,” Joan said. “We hope this fund creates opportunities for others to learn, reflect, and be inspired—just as he always was.”
The Robert B. Wilhelm Distinguished Speaker Series Fund is invested with the Heartland Community Foundation to grow over time and generate grant dollars every year. This structure ensures that Bob’s legacy will continue to fund meaningful community programs for generations to come in his honor.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning fall 2025. Interested organizations can apply online at: https://forms.gle/9DFazP4zz6VknBtL6. For questions or more information about eligible projects, email heartland@gscf.org.
To contribute to the Robert B. Wilhelm Distinguished Speaker Series Fund, give online at www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.
