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History: CII Kirby Family Legacy Scholarship

At the 66th Annual General Meeting, 2020, The Council of International Investigators, (CII) proudly announced the formation of the CII-Kirby Family Legacy Scholarship Program, designed to assist CII members and their immediate family members in educational endeavors at the collegiate level.

The program was named in honor of the Edward R. Kirby family of Illinois, USA for over 40 years of contributions to The Council of International Investigators. Three members of the Kirby family served as officers and directors and served on committees of CII since 1976. The Kirby family hosted Annual General Meetings in Chicago in 1978, 1999, and 2007.They have also hosted several regional meetings, as well as assisting in organizing numerous AGMs and other events over the past decades. Kirby family members also served as editors of the Councilor and Focus International, the Journal of CII.

  • Edward R. Kirby was the President of CII (1978) and Board Chairman (1979).
  • Steven L. Kirby was also President (1996) and Chairman of the Board (1997). Steve acted as Executive Director from 2013 to 2020. He was twice voted International Investigator of the Year (1997 & 2008) and was honored with the Meritorious Service Award in 2019.
  • James R. Kirby served as President in 2007 and chaired the Board for two years, 2008 and 2009.
  • Jim was awarded the Meritorious Service Award in 2003.
  • Family matriarch, Elizabeth “Betty” Kirby was a fixture at CII meetings and events for over 30 years.

The program was first promoted and then established by a generous donation by long time member Norm Willox and Karen Willox via the Willox Family Charitable Trust. Norm and Karen subsequently matched additional funding by several CII members.

Norm is a former officer and director of the CII and has long been a generous sponsor of meetings and events. The substantial initial donations by the Willox family and the generosity of members have helped to ensure that this program will be sustainable for a long future of assistance to members and their family.