KAHF Class of 2008

Jamal Mashburn Jr. looks way up to daddy as the former UK Wildcat basketball great addresses the crowd during his induction into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.

 

The ceremonies were held at the Galt House Hotel & Suites in downtown Louisville, Wednesday evening, April 30. Staying close to dad all evening, the youngster left mama, grandma and sister, Taylor, at a nearby table and tagged along as "Mash" accepted membership in the KAHF Class of 2008.

 

The taller Mashburn revealed to the assembled crowd at the banquet that he'd had a special highlight reel made just for his son's benefit. All-SEC and an All-American while at UK, the sixth all-time leading scorer in UK History was a first-round NBA draft choice. During 11 seasons in the NBA, Mashburn had a career scoring average of 19 ppg.

 

 

 

A quick peek at the honorees of the Class of 2008 induction into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame, held April 30. Seated L-R: Bob White, Joe Kendall's daughter, who accepted his posthumous award, Jaime Walz-Richey, Dale Lindsey and Jamal Mashburn. Standing, L-R: host Dick Gabriel, Emily Carbone, Joe Federspiel, Orlando "Tubby" Smith, William S. Farish, E.J. Fields, and host Jim Ellis.

 

Click here to see
  2008 photos
from this year's
induction banquet!

 


 

KAHF Class of 2008
 Induction Held Wednesday, April 30

 

Jamal Mashburn, Tubby Smith
Among Inductees to the
Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame

Derby Week ceremony benefits Kosair Charities

 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (March 5, 2008) – Former University of Kentucky basketball coach Tubby Smith and player Jamal Mashburn are among the athletes, coaches and sports journalists included in the 2008 induction class of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.

The KAHF today announced the 2008 Hall of Famers and plans for the induction ceremony which will take place Wednesday, April 30, at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville.

Other inductees will include thoroughbred owner and breeder Will Farish, University of Kentucky football and NFL player Joe Federspiel, Kentucky State University football player Joe Kendall, Western Kentucky University football and NFL player Dale Lindsey, WKU women’s basketball player Jaime Walz-Richey, and Courier-Journal sports writer Bob White.

During the induction ceremony, additional awards will be presented to the Kentucky Farm Bureau High School Athlete of the Year for the top boy and girl prep athlete of 2007. The High School Athletes of the Year will be announced shortly.

“The Hall looks for accomplished sports figures whose achievements have brought positive recognition to Kentucky,” said Jim Ellis, president of KAHF. “This year’s class represents outstanding athletic accomplishments both in the Commonwealth and for the Commonwealth.”

KAHF’s Selection and Induction Committee, which includes sports writers, announcers and commentators, determined the inductees from among nominations submitted by the public.

Inductees will be honored at the Derby week induction ceremony, and their accomplishments will be highlighted in individual bronze plaques to be hung alongside those of previous KAHF inductees inside Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center.

Prior inductees include Muhammad Ali, Denny Crum, Pat Day, Paul Hornung, Dan Issel, Mary T. Meagher, Tori Murden-McClure, Pee Wee Reese, Adolph Rupp, Phil Simms, Johnny Unitas, Secretariat and others.

All proceeds benefit Kosair Charities, which is the largest private financial supporter of Kosair Children’s Hospital, and has contributed nearly $110 million to support the medical care of thousands of children from across Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

“Many of our Kosair kids find pleasure and derive a sense of shared accomplishment through the lives of sports figures,” said Randy Coe, executive director of Kosair Charities. “When people who have excelled in athletics are admitted to the Hall of Fame, children of all ages share the excitement.”

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance is sponsor of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.


 

 

 

Our KAHF 2008 Induction Banquet is a Kentucky Derby Festival Event!

 

 

A closer Look at our
Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame

Class of 2008

 

William S. Farish
Owner of Lane’s End Farm.  United States Ambassador to Great Britain; Eclipse Award winner; owned or bred multiple graded stakes winners; has raced more than 140 stakes winners and bred more than 250 stakes winners, including the 2003 Horse of the Year  Mineshaft, the 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy, 1999 Horse of the Year Charismatic and Champion Lemon Drop Kid; first breeder since A. J. Alexander in 1880 to breed or co-breed two horses (Charismatic and Lemon Drop Kid) who combined to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont in the same year; 1992 and 1999 Eclipse Award winner as the year's leading breeder.

 Joe Federspiel
All SEC and second team All-American linebacker at UK, where he played from 1969-1971.  DeSales graduate (All-State) who lives in Lexington.  Played 10 or more years in the NFL and is in the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame.  Also was a referee in the SEC.  Federspiel had the bad luck to be the best player on some very bad teams which went 7-25 during his tenure.  He was named to UK’s All-Century team in a 1990 vote by state newspapers.

 


Joe Kendall

From Owensboro, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame this summer.  He was an All-American offensive back at Kentucky State in the 1930’s – could play all three positions (QB, HB, FB) and was the star of K-State’s undefeated mythical black national championship team.  Coached high school football in Harlan and Owensboro, and ran summer recreational programs in Owensboro inspiring the city to name a park for him.

 

 Dale Lindsey
Western Kentucky University; All-American, two-time All-OVC selection and 1993 inductee into the school’s Hall of Fame; played nine seasons for the NFL’s Cleveland Browns; went on to coach for six NFL teams, including the San Diego Chargers, whom he helped lead to the 1995 Super Bowl.

 

Jamal Mashburn
UK basketball All-SEC; All-American-led team to 1993 Final Four; 6th all-time leading scorer in UK history; helped restore UK basketball following probation; NBA career-(1st round draft pick); 11 seasons in NBA; career scoring average of 19 ppg; one of only six players since 1970 to have averaged at least 20 points per game in his final NBA season.

 

 

 Tubby Smith
Head basketball coach at UK from 1997-2007, coached Wildcats to 1998 NCAA championship. His teams won five SEC regular season championships and five SEC tournament titles.  His 2002-03 team won 26 straight games and was undefeated in SEC play, both regular season and tournament. Smith that year swept all 10 major Coach of the Year awards.

 

 
Jaime Walz-Richey
Highlands HS, WKU-state’s all-time leading scorer for boys and girls (4,948 points); Miss Basketball, national Gatorade high school Player of Year, 1996; ranked number one HS recruit in USA as senior; eight different organizations named her Kentucky Player of Year including the Associated Press and Courier-Journal;  AP Kentucky Female Athlete of Year in 1996; Sports Illustrated Athlete of Month in February in 1996; Four years at Western, All-Sun Belt in 2000, played in three NCAA tournaments.

 

 Bob White
Honorary Inductee - Known as “Mr. Kentucky High School Sports”, he has worked full-time for The Courier-Journal for 41 years, including the final 38 as the lead high school sports reporter.  A graduate of the University of Kentucky, White spent four months at the Cynthiana (Ky.) Democrat and a couple of years at the Cleveland (Tenn.) Banner before making his way to The C-J.  He is a member of the KHSAA Dawahare's Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame, along with the Metro Area Athletic Directors Association Hall of Fame and the Kentucky Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame. In 1991, White was honored with the Distinguished Service Award by National High School Coaches Association.

 

 

 

Associated Event!
   In conjunction with our 2008 Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame ceremonies, a special event  recognizes outstanding secondary school athletes. To read all about the 2008 Kentucky Farm Bureau
High School Athletes of the Year recognition, click here:
 
  
Carbone and Fields Honored

 

 

 

Looking back:
 

Our KAHF Induction
Class of 2007

was on
May 2, 2007

 

 

Cardinal Clansmen: Lloyd “Pappy” Redman (left) was a U of L center and linebacker in the mid ’40s. His son Bob lettered in football at the university in the late ’60s. They both were on hand to pay tribute to third generation Cardinal, Chris, who starred as U of L quarterback in the late ’90s. Chris Redman, an NFL veteran, has signed with the Atlanta Falcons. The family reunion was to celebrate the Class of 2007 being inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame on May 2.

More photos and info on our
Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame
Class of 2007
 
Click at right
to see them!.

The United States Marine Band from Parris Island, South Carolina, entertained a record 480 guests in the Archibald Cochran ballroom at the Galt House Hotel & Suites during the May 2 ceremony for the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.            --Jim Reed Photos

Click here to view two dozen more of our 2007 banquet photos!

 

Secretariat's owner and avid Cats fan Penny Chenery was presented a UK basketball jersey by Kosair Charities executive director Randy Coe  while UK greats Tubby Smith and Dan Issel offered congratulations. Almost 500 people were in attendance for our 2007 KAHF induction ceremony.

 

 (Photo courtesy of MGM Photography)

 

To view Bob Gardner's photos from both our 2007 and 2006 events, click here: MGM Photography

 

Our 2007 Inductees in Brief:

The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2007 was inducted the Wednesday before the Kentucky Derby. A first this year was a four-legged inductee, 1973 Kentucky Derby winner Secretariat, who went on to take the Triple Crown. Hall of Fame president Jim Ellis, a Louisville lawyer, says Secretariat’s selection was just coincidental to the Hall of Fame ceremonies’ new status as an official Kentucky Derby Festival event. Traditionally a fall event, this year the induction took place in Louisville on May 2 of Derby Week.

The nine members of the Class of 2007
included two record-setting quarterbacks:
the University of Kentucky’s
Tim Couch
of Leslie County, the first player chosen
in the 1999 NFL draft (Cleveland Browns),


 

and the University of Louisville’s
Chris Redman, an All-American at
Louisville’s Male High,
who also spent five seasons
in the NFL.


Also entering the Kentucky
Athletic Hall of Fame was the late
Clarence “Bighouse” Gaines
of Paducah, who coached
Winston-Salem State to 828
basketball victories and
an NCAA Division II title.

Joining the Class of 2007 was Ron Kordes
whose (Louisville) Assumption High School
volleyball teams have won 13 state titles
in the past 15 years,
as well as four national championships.


On hand to be formally inducted
at the Derby Week KAHF banquet
was
Jeff Mullins, of Lexington Lafayette,
who became an All-American
cager at Duke University.

The man known as “Mr. Wildcat,”
Bill Keightley
, the 81-year-old
equipment manager for UK men’s basketball,
 took his place among Kentucky athletic greats.

We regret to report that Mr. Keightley passed away
March 31, 2008. "Mr. Wildcat" was 81
.


Still another UK standout inducted
was golfer
Myra Van Hoose Blackwelder
of Lexington Lafayette, who
 went on from UK to be
LPGA Rookie of the Year in 1980.

 Finally, a slam dunk for
the Hall of Fame honors
was hardwood high-flier

Kenny “Sky” Walker
,
second highest scorer
in UK basketball history.


 


 

 

Our 2007 Inductees, a Closer Look:

 

The event took place, Wednesday, May 2, 2007,

at the Archibald Cochran Ballroom in the
West Tower of The Galt House Hotel & Suites
Fourth Street at the River, Louisville, KY 40202

 

Class of 2007
Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame

The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame welcomed nine new inductees as the Class of 2007, including two former high school football rivals who set about re-writing the record books at their respective college alma maters, a high-flying All-America basketball player, one of the winningest coaches in the history of college hoops, and a thoroughbred renowned as the greatest horse of his generation.

 The KAHF annual induction ceremony and banquet has become an official part of the Kentucky Derby Festival. As such, this year's ceremony was Wednesday, May 2, at the Galt House Hotel’s Archibald Cochran Room in Louisville. Proceeds benefit Kosair Charities.

Here is a closer look at our
Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame
2007  induction class:

 

Myra Van Hoose Blackwelder
Perhaps the greatest female golfer the Commonwealth of Kentucky has ever produced, Van Hoose Blackwelder won the Kentucky PGA junior title three straight times as well as four straight Kentucky high school state tournament individual titles. She was the first female athlete to be awarded a full athletic scholarship to the University of Kentucky; while at UK she won 10 college invitational tournament championships. She was the Kentucky Women’s State Golf Association champ in 1975 and '76.  On the professional tour she was named the LPGA and Golf Digest Female Rookie of Year in 1980 (best finish - 2nd in the Corning Classic). She had three top-10 finishes in 1988.

 

 

Tim Couch
A native of Hyden, Ky., Couch earned All-State honors as Kentucky’s Mr. Football.  At UK he became the school’s all-time leading passer and was named an All-American. He was a finalist for the 1998 Heisman Trophy after leading UK to the Outback Bowl.  He left school after his junior season, becoming the first UK football player ever taken with the overall first pick in the NFL draft. He spent six seasons with the Cleveland Browns.

 

 

 

Clarence “Bighouse” Gaines
The Paducah native is a member of the  Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He coached 47 years at Winston-Salem State University; compiling a 828-447 record, winning an NCAA Division II championship in 1967 with  31-1 record, as Winston-Salem became the first predominantly black school to win an NCAA D-II crown. He retired from coaching in 1993 and is still sixth all-time on the NCAA coaching wins mark for any division.

  

Ron Kordes
Volleyball coach at Louisville Assumption High School. Kordes has built the greatest high school sports dynasty in Kentucky. Assumption was a minor player on volleyball scene before Kordes arrived in 1988, but now is a top national power. Kordes has led Assumption to state titles in 13 of past 15 years, including two national titles during that time; 20 of Kordes' players have signed with colleges over the past seven seasons.

 

Jeff Mullins
A graduate of Lafayette High School in Lexington, where he was named Mr. Basketball in 1960, Mullins went on to become an All-American at Duke, where his number was retired.  Mullins was named to the 1964 Olympic gold medal-winning basketball team team and was chosen fifth overall in the NBA draft. He had a 13-year pro career with St. Louis and San Francisco/Golden State and was a three-time NBA all-star.  He coached North Carolina-Charlotte from 1985 to 1996.

 

Chris Redman
A star at Louisville Male High School, Redman was named All-State,  Parade All-American, as well as national offensive Player of Year.  At the University of Louisville, Redman threw for 12,541 yards, third-highest total in Division I history. He also was the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award-winner and became the first U of L quarterback to lead his team to back-to-back bowl appearances.  Redman spent five seasons in the National Football League.

 

 

Secretariat
The Triple Crown winner in 1973, “Big Red” still holds the record time in the Kentucky Derby. Considered by most experts to be the greatest thoroughbred in the modern era of racing, his Derby-winning time of 1:59 2/5 seconds has endured since 1973. He went on to become the sport’s first Triple Crown winner in 25 years.  He stood stud at Claiborne Farm in Paris, Ky., from 1974 through 1989, living in the same stall that was once home to his sire, Bold Ruler. Secretariat sired a substantial number of major stakes winners, including 1986 Horse of the Year, Lady’s Secret, 1988 Preakness and Belmont winner, Risen Star, and 1990 Melbourne Cup winner, Kingston Rule, who still holds the race record.  

 

Kenny Walker
No. 2 scorer in UK men’s basketball history, “Sky” Walker was named All-SEC three times and twice named All-America. He helped lead the Wildcats to the 1984 Final Four.  Walker was the fifth player chosen overall in the 1986 NBA draft, by the New York Knicks. In 1989, Walker won the NBA Slam Dunk contest at the league’s all-star game. He played professionally in Europe as well.

  

 

Bill Keightley
Affectionately known as “Mr. Wildcat,”  Keightley, the longtime UK equipment manager, was associated with the Wildcats’ basketball program from 1962. During his tenure, he served under six UK head coaches — Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Orlando “Tubby” Smith and Billy Gillispie. In 1997, UK honored Keightley with a retired jersey in his honor. He joined veteran broadcaster Cawood Ledford as the only non-players or non-coaches to have a jersey retired at UK. We regret to report that Mr. Keightley passed away March 31, 2008. "Mr. Wildcat" was 81.

 # # # 


See  candid photos from our 2006 induction banquet!

Looking Back:                
Class of 2006 Inducted

Our Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame 2006 Induction Banquet was held Wednesday evening, October 11, 2006, at Louisville's Galt House East.  Proceeds of more than $57,000 go to the benefit of Kosair Charities.

 


 

LIKE GRANDFATHER, LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON: Joining both his father and grandfather as a member of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame was 12-year NBA veteran Allan Houston. Allan led Louisville Ballard to the 1988 Sweet Sixteen title and is the all-time leading basketball scorer for the University of Tennessee. The Class of 2006 was inducted on October 11. Hoops player, coach and recruiter Wade Houston was inducted in 1999. Allan's grandfather was legendary Central High School basketball/football coach William L. Kean, a 1975 inductee.

Click here to see view Jim Reed's  2006 banquet photos!


 

Class of 2006
Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame

            A current NBA champion, the winningest coach in the history of Kentucky high school football and the greatest gymnast in the history of NCAA women’s athletics were among the Class of 2006 for the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame.

 The 2006 inductees:

  • Doug Flynn, a longtime major league infielder, Gold Glove winner and former member of the Cincinnati Reds’ 1975-76 world championship teams;

  • Jenny Hansen, a 13-time All-America gymnast at the University of Kentucky;

  • Clemette Haskins, a three-time All-America basketball player at Western Kentucky;

  • Hillerich and Bradsby, the company that made the city of Louisville synonymous with excellence in sporting equipment through its production of “Louisville Sluggers”;

  • Allan Houston, who led Ballard to a Sweet 16 championship and went on to become an NBA All-Star;

  • Tom Jurich, the athletics director responsible for leading University of Louisville athletics to a position of national prominence;

  • Pat Riley, the former “Rupp’s Runt” who went on to become one of the greatest coaches in NBA history;

  • Bob Schneider of Newport Central Catholic, the winningest coach in Kentucky prep football history.

            

 The 2006 inductees were recognized at the annual Hall of Fame banquet on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2006, at the Galt House Hotel and Suites in Louisville. The Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame is sponsored by Kentucky Farm Bureau and all proceeds go to Kosair Charities.


Here is a closer look at our
Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame
2006  induction class:

 

DOUG FLYNN
Signing with the Cincinnati Reds after being discovered in a tryout camp, Flynn played in the major leagues from 1975 through 1984. He was a utility infielder with the World Series Champion “Big Red Machine” teams in Cincinnati in 1975-76, considered by baseball experts to be among the best teams in the history of the game. Flynn was part of the blockbuster, multi-player trade that saw the New York Mets deal future baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver to the Reds.

Flynn enjoyed his best seasons in New York, winning a Gold Glove in 1980 for his defensive work at 2nd base. Not known for his offense, Flynn set a big league record for triples in one game, with three.  He also played for the Texas Rangers, the Montreal Expos and the Detroit Tigers.

After retiring from baseball, Flynn moved back to his native Lexington and was involved in the state’s “Say No to Drugs” campaign, counseling young people. He also has served as co-chairman for the Children’s Charity Golf Classic, the most successful charity golf tournament of its type in America.

 

JENNY HANSEN
The NCAA named Hansen, a 13-time All-American, its most outstanding gymnast over the past 25 years in NCAA championship competition. The honor was awarded in conjunction with the NCAA’s celebration surrounding the 25th Anniversary of Women’s Championships.

Hansen dominated her competition, winning eight NCAA gymnastics championships titles. She is the first and only woman to win three straight NCAA all-around titles (1993, 94, 95), and also captured NCAA titles on the balance beam (1994, 1995), vault (1994, 1995) and floor exercise (1995).

Hansen was a three-time Honda Broderick gymnastics award winner, and in 1994 she was the Honda Broderick Cup recipient as the top women’s amateur athlete in the nation.

In 1995, Hansen was named the Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year. She set and still holds every individual gymnastics record in UK school history. Additionally, in 1995, she became the second female ever to win the “Kentucky Sportsman of the Year” award, as recognized by the Lexington Herald-Leader.

  

CLEMETTE HASKINS
Haskins, the daughter of former Hilltopper All-American and KAHF member Clem Haskins, helped lead the Lady Toppers to a pair of NCAA Final Four appearances (1985 and '86) while earning All-American recognition three times during her Western playing days.

The record holder for assists in a career, season and game ranks fourth on Western's all-time scoring list with 1,762 points, Haskins also owns school records for both career and season steals. She was a member of the 1986 NCAA Final Four All-Tournament team and was Western's Female Athlete of the Year in 1987.

Haskins followed father Clem as the second member of her family to be inducted into Western's Athletics Hall of Fame.

  

HILLERICH AND BRADSBY
The "Louisville Slugger” ball bat, produced by Hillerich and Bradsby, is one of the most recognized brand names in the world. Legendary players such as Honus Wagner, Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth and Ted Williams swung Louisville Sluggers, as well as thousands of past, current and future stars, including Ken Griffey, Jr. The Hillerich family's woodworking shop first opened in 1855. According to company legend, their first baseball bat was made in 1884 for the Louisville-born Pete “The Gladiator” Browning of the Louisville Eclipse.

The bats were sold under the name "Falls City Slugger" until around 1894 when the name "Louisville Slugger" was trademarked. In 1905, Wagner signed a deal with the company, becoming the first baseball player to officially endorse a bat. Frank Bradsby, a salesman, became a partner in 1916 and the company's name changed to Hillerich and Bradsby. During World War II, the company produced wooden rifle stocks and billy clubs for the U.S. Army.

 In 1954, the company purchased Larimer and Norton, Inc., a Pennsylvanian lumber company, to ensure a supply of hardwood for their products. Since then the company has produced not only wood bats, but metal bats, golf clubs and hockey sticks. Competing brands have emerged, but only one name is still synonymous with the sweet sound of bat hitting baseball: “Louisville Slugger.” 

 

Allan Houston
One of the greatest players in the history of Kentucky high school basketball, Houston is still the all-time leading scorer at his college alma mater, and went on to become one of the most consistent scorers in the National Basketball Association. Houston led Louisville Ballard to the 1988 Kentucky High School Athletics Association Sweet 16 championship.

Following his prep career, he signed with the University of Tennessee, where he played for his father, Wade. Allan left Knoxville in 1993, after four seasons, as the school’s all-time leading scorer.

He was a first-round draft pick (11th overall) of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. After three seasons, Houston was traded to the New York Knicks, where he forged a reputation as a prolific point-producer. He spent nine seasons in New York, helping to lead the Knicks to the 1999 NBA championship finals. He was named to the All-Star team both in 2000 and 2001. Houston retired from the league with a 17.3 career scoring average.

 

TOM JURICH
Jurich was named Athletics Director at the University of Louisville on Oct. 21, 1997. Since then, he has:

  • Overseen U of L's historic move to the Big East Conference.

  • Hired Bobby Petrino, who has molded the Cardinals into a consistent Top-25 program.

  • Hired Rick Pitino, who coached the basketball Cardinals to the 2005 NCAA Final Four.

  • Guided U of L through the steps toward achieving gender equity, upgrading funding and support staff for existing women's programs while adding three new sports - softball, golf and rowing. Jurich's efforts also moved field hockey, women's soccer and baseball to fully-funded programs.

  • Addressed multiple facility needs, including an extensive sports park - the first components of which were completed in 1999 - to serve as a front lawn for the University. Cardinal Park features a softball stadium, field hockey artificial surface field, soccer field surrounded by a state-of-the-art track, fitness trail, outdoor basketball and sand volleyball courts and a playground.

  • Enlarged the compliance department with the school's first associate athletic director for compliance and adding the school's first female associate athletic director/senior woman administrator.

  • Overseen a rise in academic success within the athletics department.

 

PAT RILEY
An All-American at the University of Kentucky, Riley was a member of one of the most beloved teams in UK history, “Rupp’s Runts,”  who lost to Texas Western in the 1966 NCAA championship game. Even so, Riley is best known for his work in the National Basketball Association as a coach, executive and former player. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest NBA coaches of all time. He has been the head coach of five championship teams, an assistant coach to another, and played for one, bringing his total to seven championships overall, including the 2005-06 title, won by the Miami Heat.

Of all NBA coaches, Riley has collected the second largest number of wins, behind Lenny Wilkens. Riley is the only coach to have twice taken over midway and subsequently lead the team to the championship that season, including this year’s title run with the Heat.  

 He was selected by the San Diego Rockets in the 1st round of the 1967 NBA Draft, and was also drafted as a flanker by the Dallas Cowboys in the 11th round of the 1967 NFL Draft. He joined the Rockets and later signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, helping them win the 1972 NBA Finals. He retired from his playing career in 1976.

 

BOB SCHNEIDER
When Newport Central Catholic defeated Holy Cross, 48-7, in a Class A district game in 2005, Schneider became the winningest coach in Kentucky high school football history with a 293-167-2 record in 40 years with the program, at that point.

The winning didn’t end there. NewCath went on to beat Mayfield 42-7 in the Kentucky Class A state championship game in Louisville, the second most lopsided victory in 1A finals history. The victory was number 302 for Schneider, and it represented the second state football championship in the history of the school, which happens to be his alma mater.

He took over as head coach in 1966, leading his first team to an 8-2 record. Under Schneider, the Thoroughbreds never encountered a losing record from 1974 through 1997. He also coached NewCath to the state championship game on four other occasions. Schneider is also a member of the KHSAA Board of Control.

Click here to read about our Walls of Fame!

 


 

Class of 2005
Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame

The 2005 induction ceremony  took place September 15 at The Galt House Hotel & Suites in Louisville.  For the first time, an entire team was inducted, along with seven individual nominees. Here is the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2005:

1975 KENTUCKY COLONELS
The 1975 Kentucky Colonels, who this year mark the 30th anniversary of their American Basketball Association championship, have been inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame — as a team! The 1974-75 Kentucky Colonels, which gave Louisville its only major-league sports championship, was coached by Hubie Brown and Stan Albeck. The 10 players were Bird Averitt, Louie Dampier, Artis Gilmore, Dan Issel, Wilbert Jones, Gene Littles, Ted McClain, Marvin Roberts, Ron Thomas and the late Jim Bradley.

DR. BOB DAVIS
Bob might not have played basketball at Georgetown College, but he certainly did his share of coaching there. For 20 years he coached basketball, taking eight teams to the NAIA tournaments. In 1959 he was chosen Coach of the Year in the NAIA. Davis went to Auburn in 1973 where, over a five-season span, he had a record of 70-61.

WOODIE FRYMAN
Woodie, a left-hander from Fleming County, Ky. pitched for five teams during his 18 year major league baseball career with the Pirates, Phillies, Tigers, Expos and Reds. He appeared in 625 games before retiring in 1983. Fryman pitched 68 complete games, 27 shutouts and three-one hitters.

D. WAYNE LUCAS
This top thoroughbred trainer has four Kentucky Derby winners and four Kentucky Oaks winners credited to his name, as well as the record over the past 24 years for entering 42 horses into the Kentucky Derby. He has won 13 Triple Crown races and, in 1995, became the only trainer to win all three Triple Crown races in the same year with two different horses.

GREG PAGE
Page was national Amateur Athletic Union heavyweight champion in 1977 and 1978 and won the World Boxing Association Heavyweight title at age 26. Page’s professional record of 58-16-1 ended at age 42, after he suffered permanent brain damage during a match in Erlanger, Kentucky.

ADRIAN SMITH
Smith was a starting guard for the University of Kentucky Wildcats during the 1957-58 season, averaging 12.4 points, in winning the NCAA basketball championship. A leading player in the 1960 Olympic Games, Smith also played on the Pan-American Games team. He played for 8-½ years with Oscar Robertson and the Cincinnati Royals, where he was the MVP of the 1966 NBA All-Star Game.

ART STILL
Art was a defensive end for the 1977 University of Kentucky football team and led the Wildcats to a 10-1 record and a No. 6 national ranking, a feat no Wildcats football team has since matched. He was the second choice in the 1978 NFL draft and played for Kansas City. He was the Chiefs’ MVP in 1980 and 1984 and a four time Pro Bowl selection with the team’s third highest number of sacks — 72-½.

DEJUAN WHEAT
A 1992 All-State guard, DeJuan Wheat went on to the University of Louisville to be the first player in NCAA history to total more than 2,000 points, 450 assists, 300 three-point goals and 200 steals. Wheat led the Cardinals to four straight trips to the NCAA Tournament. He was a second round pick in the 1997 NBA draft and played briefly for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Vancouver Grizzlies.


 

 

Click here to learn
about our Walls of Fame.
We invite you to visit!










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While the  the Class of 2008
was inducted April 30,
it's not too early to think about
the Class of 2009.
KAHF nominations are
accepted year-round here:   

Nomination Page

 

 

Associated Event!
2008 High School
Athletes Honored


 

 

See  2007 photos
from last year's
induction banquet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See  2006 photos
from that year's
induction banquet!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See  photos
from last year's
induction banquet!