Bill Keightley - "Mr. Wildcat" Dies

I am sure this post will have little interest to those not born in the bluegrass state or who are not fans of Kentucky basketball.  But as a native son and lifelong fan of the UK wildcats, I feel the need to mourn the passing of a Kentucky icon.  Mr. Bill Keightley died yesterday.  He was 81 years old and had served as a UK equipment manager for 47 years.  Born in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky in 1926, Keightley joined UK as a part-time equipment manager in 1962, after serving as a longtime employee of the U.S. Postal Service.  Since that time he has been a fixture on the UK bench.  His kindly face and pleasant demeanor helped make Keightley an unofficial ambassador for the state and UK for almost a half-century.

When I was growing up and living in Kentucky (1961-1986), Keightley and radio broadcaster Cawood Ledford were the face and voice of Kentucky basketball; and much more so than any of the players or even coaches who came and went during their tenures.  Ledford died in 2001 after having called UK games for 39 years, and now Keightley has joined his friend and colleague in death.  I cannot remember watching or listening to a Kentucky game during my time in my home state without seeing and listening to these two men.  They defined UK for the millions of it fans during their lifetimes. 

Keightley suffered a fall while getting out of a bus at the Cincinnati Reds ballpark yesterday.  When he was taken to the hospital, the doctors discovered that he was bleeding from a previously undiagnosed tumor on his spine.  They were unable to stop the bleeding, and Keightley died during surgery late last evening.  He will be missed.  Tributes to this fine man can be found in every newspaper or on every TV and radio station in the Commonwealth.  Some of these include former coaches and players, who, universally looked up to and admired Keightley.  Here are a few:

Current UK Coach Billy Gillispie:

“This is one of the saddest days of my life. I commented earlier today that at the age of 81, he’s become one of my very best friends, and the person I was talking to said ‘that’s what makes him so great, because everyone feels he’s their best friend’.  And that’s because he was so genuine and so caring about others. He influenced each of us on a daily basis, and he was a great example of someone who loved his University more than anything. Obviously, he’s in a better place, but the void he leaves for all of us, and especially his family, is going to be a difficult situation. Our hearts go out to his family and the millions of Wildcats fans who he loved so much.”

UK President Lee Todd:

“For many Kentuckians, and, indeed, for much of the country, Bill Keightley was not only the face of UK Wildcat basketball, but the University of Kentucky itself. In his five decades with the university, Mr. Keightley represented UK and the Big Blue Nation with class, with devotion and with an abiding love for our players and fans. He was as much a part of the basketball program as any player or coach. He was ‘Mr. Wildcat.’ An entire state tonight – from Paducah to Pikeville — is mourning his passing and, I’m sure, remembering his family in prayer along with Patsy and me. It’s my belief that in heaven he’s already helping organize a game or two and telling stories of Wildcat lore to anyone who will listen.”

Former Kentucky Coach Tubby Smith:

“Words can not describe what Mr. Keightley has meant to me and many others that have been involved with Kentucky Basketball. Mr. Keightley has been a confidant to so many coaches that have had the good fortune to sit along side him. That is what it has been, us sitting next to him, not him sitting next to us. No one will ever love Kentucky Basketball more than Mr. Keightley. A few years back, he began writing his book of stories about UK Basketball. For those who did not know him personally, hopefully his book of memoirs will allow them the opportunity to learn about his legacy, one that can never be replaced. In my years with him, he taught me so much about life. We have certainly lost a great treasure in his passing. He has always had a way of being able to pick you up when things were down. I know his spirit will continue to be with me and all Wildcat fans, players, managers and coaches. He is certainly loved by many, and will be missed by all.”

Former Kentucky Coach Joe B. Hall:

“I’m shook up. We had dinner together Friday night and he was in great spirits. It’s hard to believe. He was a good friend to all of us. He was so close to all the coaches, players, managers and everyone who was associated with Kentucky basketball. It’s a total shock. Everyone liked to be around him,” Hall said last night. “He had a positive spirit about him. He was always in a great mood. So many people loved him. He touched so many people’s lives, coaches, players, managers. Even players from other teams would get to know him. He had thousands of fans.”

Former Kentucky Guard Cameron Mills:

“Saying he was kind of like a grandfather sounds kind of cliched, but that’s how he was. When you get in trouble with your parents, you can go to your grandparents and they will kind of love on you. That’s how Mr. Keightley was with us. When the coaches got on you, he was the guy you could go to who’d make you feel better.”

As I said at the beginning of this post, I am sure non-Kentuckians (you poor folks) and non-UK fans will not understand, but that’s okay.  I, along with hundreds of thousands of others do, and we will miss this gentle and loving man.

Mr. Wildcat by the numbers (from the Lexington Herald-Leader)
2: One of only two non-players or coaches to have his name hoisted into Rupp Arena rafters. The other was longtime broadcaster Cawood Ledford.
3: UK NCAA titles at which Keightley sat courtside.
6: Head coaches Keightley served under (Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, Billy Gillispie).
8: UK trips to Final Four at which Keightley sat courtside.
12: Southeastern Conference Tournament titles during his tenure.
19: All-Americans who have gone through UK in Keightley’s tenure.
24: Won or shared UK Southeastern Conference regular-season championships
48: Seasons as equipment manager on UK bench.
57: Percentage of games in the 105-year history of UK basketball in which Keightley worked.
1,113: Wins he witnessed from UK bench

You can read more tributes at A Sea of Blue and Kentucky Sports Radio blogs.