Cavalier Corner is the publication just for UVa sports fans!
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wahoo nation Lee Hilbert Lee Hilbert ('68) and his wife, Richie, have had Virginia football season tickets for 40 years, and pLee's accumulated enough memories to fill Scott Stadium. Two stand out above the rest. "One was when we beat Florida State for the first time [33-28 in 1995]," said Hilbert, who received his undergraduate degree from UVa's McIntire School of Commerce and his MBA from The Darden School in 1970. "We were the first team in the ACC to beat Florida State. It was an unbelievable environment. The crowd was going crazy. "The second was when we went to the Peach Bowl and beat Purdue [27‑24 in 1984]. There were a ton of Virginia fans there. It was the first bowl game in decades and we beat a highly touted Purdue team." Not surprisingly, Hilbert also has a favorite UVa football player. "If I had to choose one, I would say Marques Hagans '06 [among other things, Hagans led UVa to a 26-21 victory over No. 4 Florida State in 2005]," he said. "Marques was spectacular that day at quarterback. He was just unconscious with his throws and scrambling. He virtually single-handedly won the game." With the exception of a two-year hiatus, the Hilberts also have had season tickets for UVa men's basketball for almost 40 years. "We've attended almost every home game throughout that time, both football and basketball," he said. "We've also attended all but two or three of UVa's bowl games." Hilbert didn't hesitate when asked why he's been a season-ticket holder in football for approximately four decades. "I love college football and basketball, and Richie and I are huge UVa fans, so it's a natural," he said. "We prefer going to games in person rather than watching them on television, and we really enjoy taking family and friends as our guests." Lee and Richie Hilbert have had Virginia football season tickets for 40 years, and have also had men's basketball season tickets for most of the past four decades. Photo courtesy Lee and Richie Hilbert During his undergraduate years, Hilbert was a cheerleader "back in the day when UVa was all male." Hilbert, who's a past president of the VAF (1999), and his wife have been VAF donors for 39 years. "We feel it makes sense to financially support the sports we enjoy with our attendance," he said. "It's a nice way to give back to the university as it provides not only scholarships for football and basketball, but also brings some good kids who might not have attended otherwise to the university to play other sports. "Richie participates in our giving. Without her support, there's no way we would be going to all these games and donating to the VAF." UVa played an important role in Hilbert's life in a way not associated with sports. Currently, he's the Chairman Emeritus of Colliers International (Richmond), which is a leader in global real estate and which offers comprehensive services to investors, property owners, tenants and developers around the world. "My background in the business schools helped me get started in real estate," Hilbert said. "When I became an owner and president of our firm, those skills became invaluable." — Mike Scandura