Lieutenant Colonel (RET) Jimmy W. Kilbourne, Jr.

Jimmy was born into a military family and lived in Europe for several years before the family retired to Winchester, Virginia. After graduation from Handley High School Jimmy attended the Virginia Military Institute graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant of Infantry in the Army National Guard and began his service career as a traditional drilling Guardsman.

Early Lieutenant assignments include Rifle Platoon, Anti-armor, Mortar, and Support Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry. As a Captain Jimmy had command of a Rifle Company, then served full-time with the First Brigade (The Stonewall Brigade) 29th Division (Light) as Assistant Brigade S-3, Assistant Brigade S-4 and after promotion to Major as the Brigade S-1 and Brigade S-4. Jimmy’s next assignments were Support Operations Officer and Battalion Executive Officer for the 429th Support Battalion (Forward) and then as the Defense Movement Coordinator for Virginia at the Virginia Army National Guard headquarters. Jimmy later transferred to VMI Army ROTC Battalion and served as Battalion Executive Officer, the Recruiting Officer, Reserve Component Liaison Officer and as a Military Science Instructor.

After promotion to Lieutenant Colonel Jimmy was assigned as Operations Officer for the 183d Regiment, Regional Training Institute at Fort Pickett, Va. Jimmy’s last military assignment prior to retirement in 2014 was Deputy Commander, 183d Regiment (RTI). Jimmy is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, Command and General Staff College, the Army Light Leader Course, Summer and Winter Mountain Warfare School, Infantry Mortar Leaders Course, Quartermaster and Transportation Officer Qualification Courses, the Army Logistics Management College and various other professional development and technical courses. Jimmy’s awards include the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, the Army Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with three oak leaf clusters and the National Defense Service Medal with one service star.

Jimmy has always been involved in civic service in the community and enjoys antique automobiles. He is a past president of Staunton’s America’s Birthday Celebration, Director Emeritus of the Gypsy Express Miniature Train in Gypsy Hill Park, past president of Shenandoah Region Antique Automobile Club of America, and founder and past President of the local chapter of the Military Vehicle Preservation Association. He stays involved with Veterans groups and issues and is a member of AMVETS and The American Legion and currently serves as the National Commander of the 29th Division Association. Jimmy is a former board member of the Virginia National Guard Historic Society and the Citizen Solders Education Foundation and served as the latter foundation’s Executive Director from 2016 to 2023. He now works as the director of the 29th Division Museum in Verona, Va. He was elected in 2024 to serve as one of the City of Staunton’s representatives on the Headwaters Soil and Water Conservation District board of directors.

Jimmy lives in Staunton, Virginia and is married to the former Sheila Horne also of Virginia. They have two children, a son Jay (29 yrs) and a daughter Ginna (26 yrs).

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