Long-time UK basketball equipment manager Bill Keightley died on Monday, friend Van Florence said. Keightley was 81.
Keightley and Florence were part of a group that traveled to Cincinnati to watch the Reds’ game against Arizona. Keightley fell as he got off a bus at the stadium, Florence said.
Initially, the group did not believe Keightley had been seriously injured, Florence said.
However, Keightley apparently suffered internal injuries and died while being treated at University of Cincinnati Hospital, Florence said.
A native of Lawrenceburg, Keightley had worked in UK basketball’s equipment room since 1962. He and the late radio play-by-play announcer Cawood Ledford are the only non-player or non-coaches to have their jerseys ceremonially retired in Rupp Arena.
Keightley was affectionately known as “Mr. Wildcat.”
Jerry Tipton of the Lexington Herald- Leader has covered Kentucky basketball since the 1981-82 season. That time includes five coaches, five Final Fours, four athletic directors, two interim athletic directors and many memories. Before coming to Lexington, Tipton worked eight years for the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch. He covered Marshall’s basketball team for two seasons before coming to the Herald-Leader.
Rest in peace, Mr. Wildcat.
Rest in peace Mr. Keightly. You supported a lot of Kentucky players and coaches, from the stars to benchwarmers, to the practice-only players. You set an example that fans and equipment managers everywhere can only aspire to. You are in big blue heaven now. Say hi to Coach Rupp and Ralph Beard.
Bill Keightley was as important to UK Basketball as Joe Nuxall was to the Cincinnati Reds.
God Bless you Bill.
A sad day for the entire state. You will be missed. May you now find comfort in the embrace of God.
I think they should keep his seat empty from now on. No one should every sit in that first seat. I know that will be hard with the 30 players we will be dressing next year but I think leaving that seat open would be a great rememrance of Mr. Wildcat and the fact that he can’t be replaced.