Biography

This is a portrait cabinet card of Springfield College alumnus Ernest Hildner (class of 1893), the youngest member of the very first basketball team. The photograph was taken in Detroit Michigan., ca 1891.

Ernest Gotthold Hildner was born on October 26, 1873 in Detroit, MI. He was the son of Rev. John G. Gotthold Hildner and Johanna Josenhans Hildner.

Hildner attended high school for three years before spending several months in business. It was during this time, and shortly after Hildner had devoted more of his time to his religious beliefs, that a YMCA secretary encouraged him to work for the Association. 

After much prayer and consideration, Hildner decided to attend the International YMCA Training School, now Springfield College, to serve young men and lead them to Christ, in the fall of 1891.  

While at Springfield, Hildner played football alongside the man who would become his physical education instructor that semester, Dr. James Naismith. He was just 18 years old, the youngest student in the class when Dr. Naismith introduced the game to his class on December 21m 1891. 

Upon graduating from the International YMCA Traning School in 1893, Hildner became an assistant secretary at the YMCA branch in Albany, New York. 

He left this position in 1894 and returned to school, enrolling at Union College in nearby Schenectady, New York, where he played football once more.

After two years there, Hildner furthered his studies at the University of Michigan.

Rather than graduating from Michigan, Hildner instead chose to follow his calling and enrolled at the Presbyterian Seminary in Auburn, New York. He completed his education there in 1901 and began his ministry in Vassar, Michigan.

Reverend Hildner served many communities in Michigan and Indiana during his 41-year career in the ministry.

Following his fulfilling career, Rev. Hildner moved in with his son in Jacksonville Ill. There, he lived across the street from Illinois College, where he attended nearly all of the basketball games.

Despite his presence in the first game, basketball did not make much of an impression on him until many years later. 

It was not until a 1950 vacation to Tijuana, Mexico, where he saw local children playing on an outdoor court, that he realized the sport's impact.

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