User:Cq1908

Bruce D. Kimball

Personal History:
Bruce was born June 11, 1963 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His father, Dick Kimball was the legendary former diving coach at the University of Michigan. Bruce followed in his father’s footsteps and as a youngster he was national champion for his age group 14 times. Bruce continued to dive and in 1981 when Bruce was 18 a drunken driver hit him. The crash broke every bone in his face, broke his skull, destroyed his spleen and tore up his knee. Nine months after the crash he resumed diving. He was one of the highlights in the 1984 Olympics and was given the nickname “The Comeback Kid”. After the 1984 Olympics Bruce dropped out of college. He helped his father coach and delivered pizza. By 1986 Bruce was using cocaine as often as 5 times a week. Bruce also smoked weed and drank up to 15 beers at a time.

Diving Career:
Bruce’s specialty was the 10-meter platform. Bruce captured silver medals in the 1982 National Sports Festival, the 1983 Olympic Festival, the 1983 Pan American Games and the 1983 World Cup. Bruce took silver again at the 1984 Olympics, held in Los Angeles. Bruce finished behind USA teammate Greg Louganis. Bruce also won bronze medals in the World Championships in 1982 and 1986. Bruce also was in the runnning for the 1988 Olympic Trials but dropped out.

The Accident:
On Monday, August 1, 1988 at 10:56 pm Bruce was driving drunk when is 1984 Mazda hit several cars and eight Brandon teen-agers, who were gathered at a meeting place called “The Spot”. Kevin Martin Gossic, 16, and Robie Bedell, 19 were killed. Authorities said Kimball was driving 70 to 90 mph down Culbreath Road. Bruce was arrested and charged with two counts of vehicular homicide. His Father posted the $10,000 bail and Bruce was released the next day. Kimball pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter and was sentenced to 17 years in prison and 15 years of probation. On November 24, 1993 Bruce was released from prison do to good behavior. Bruce had served less than 5 years of his 17-year sentence.

Life After Prison:
After Kimball was released from prison he moved to Chicago to be with his girlfriend, Val Lupa. Kimball and Val Lupa met at the University of Michigan on the diving team that they were both part of. He continued to study but at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 1994 Kimball was hired as a part-time diving coach at New Trier High School in Winneka, Illinois. Then in 1998 after he got his bachelor’s degree, he became the full-time coach as a “pool aide”. Kimball applied for a teaching certificate and turned down at first but he appealed the ruling and the judge ruled in his favor. In 2000, Kimball became a full-time teacher at New Trier. Kimball still was unable to drive so in 2004 Kimball was granted a driver’s licensee in Illinois after many appeals and testimonies.

Kimball Today:
Today Kimball is a Kinetic Wellness teacher and diving coach at New Trier High School. He is married and has three children. Kimball lives in Evanston, IL and has remained sober since 1989.