The date of death of the following Kentucky players has been tentatively identified. Those with a (P) have a photograph available if useful. Those with a (**) have a biography or obituary, however those without do not. Any assistance in confirming this information or in obtaining or locating biographical information is appreciated. This type of information may possibly be available in appropriate local or national newspapers or from relatives.
For listings which have not been confirmed, a best guess has been made based on the uniqueness of the name, middle initial if known, age of person as it relates to the expected birth year and even place of death. A major source of this information comes from the KYrootsweb website which lists any person who died in the state of Kentucky between 1911 and 2000. Another useful site is the Social Security Death Index which provides DOB and DOD information on virtually anyone who received a social security benefit. The hometown when the player was in college, the place of death and residence of death is given (if known) in order to assist in locating appropriate obituaries or biographies. If you have any relevant information, please contact me at the address below. For more information on the other type of data I am searching for with my site, please check the following page.
Status: Confirmed - Need Obit - The dates have generally been confirmed by an outside source, however an obituary is still desired.
| Player | Last Season Played | Known Date of Death | Hometown (at School) | Known Date of Birth | Estimated Birth Year | Unconfirmed Birth Year | Unconfirmed Date of Death | Unconfirmed Residence | Unconfirmed Place of Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Pedro Branson (P) (A) | 1905-06 | - | Yosemite, KY | 6/18/1882 | 1882 | 6/18/1882 | 2/1/1979 | - | - | SS has a Don Branson dob 6/18/1882 with Issue in Ohio and Last Residence Columbus OH Feb 1979. Check Columbus OH paper ( ) |
| Melvin Charles Brewer (P) (A) | 1942-43 | 8/6/1944 (**) | New Albany, IN | - | 1920 | NA | NA | KIA - WWII | - | KIA WWII (France) |
| Milton James Cavana (P) (A) | 1930-31 | 9/13/1959 (**) | - | - | 1909 | NA | NA | Campbell | Campbell | Check newspaper in Campbell county. ( ) ss index and kyindex don't agree on age/dob (9/9/1919 vs. 1910). Real name may be James. |
| Kenneth Haynes England (P) (A) | 1941-42 | 4/14/1945 (**) | Campbellsburg, KY | - | 1920 | NA | NA | WWII | - | KIA - WWII (Italy) |
| James William Goforth (P) (A) | 1936-37 | 6/22/1944 (**) | Louisville, KY | - | 1914 | NA | NA | Saipan - WWII | - | KIA - WWII (Saipan) |
| Walter Marion Johnson (P) (A) | 1943-44 | 7/30/1945 (**) | Mount Sterling, KY | - | 1923 | NA | NA | WWII | - | KIA WWII (Pacific) |
| James Libern King (P) (A) | 1941-42 | 2/24/1944 (**) | Sharpe, KY | - | 1919 | NA | NA | WWII | - | KIA WWII (Germany) |
| Bernard Opper (P) (A) | 1938-39 | 2/24/2000 | New York, NY | 9/1/1915 | 1915 | NA | NA | - | Encino, CA | Check NY papers or Encino CA ( ) papers (outside library) |
| Arthur Price Shanklin (P) (A) | 1917-18 | 8/20/1968 | Lexington, KY | 11/4/1899 | 1899 | NA | NA | Jefferson | Jefferson | Look in LCJ for obituary. Died in Louisville. |
| Willis A. Smethers (P) [Willis] (A) | 1947-48 | 12/23/2001 | Middletown, OH | 4/8/1927 | 1927 | NA | NA | - | - | Died in Middletown, OH. Check local paper ( ) |
Status: High - Based on the evidence at hand, it is believed that the estimated date is accurate. This is usually attributed to an uncommon name which matches an expected birth year or a solid matching of expected birth year, name (including middle initial) and location.
| Player | Last Season Played | Known Date of Death | Hometown (at School) | Known Date of Birth | Estimated Birth Year | Unconfirmed Birth Year | Unconfirmed Date of Death | Unconfirmed Residence | Unconfirmed Place of Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Marshall Crump (P) (A) | 1930-31 | - | Fort Thomas, KY | - | 1909 | 11/3/1906 | 2/20/1991 | Fayette | Fayette | LHL has short obit on 2/21/1991 p. b8 Located. "Lawrence M. Crump, 84, 247 North Mill Street, retired manager of the Lexington Credit Bureau, husband of Lucy Shropshire Crump." Need to check further if this is same person. |
| Ray Ellis (A) | 1926-27 | - | Louisville, KY | - | 1905 | 1/3/1905 | 1/23/1992 | Tampa, Fl | - | SSDI lists a Ray Ellis who died in Tampa Fl Jan 23, 1992. With birth in 1/3/1905 and SS# issued in KY. Very likely this is same person. Check Tampa Fl papers. ( ). Also LHL ( ) |
| Samuel Harper (P) [Samuel] (A) | 1963-64 | 3/7/1999 (**) | Clinton, KY | 11/27/1943 | 1943 | NA | NA | Boyle | Boyle | Check Lexington paper and next day of Danville paper. Danville paper (3/8/1999) does not have a lot of information and doesn't confirm he was a former UK athlete. |
| Paul Jenkins (P) (A) | 1927-28 | - | Louisville, KY | 11/8/1905 | 1905 | - | 2/1/1985 | St. Petersburg, FL | - | Info according to 3/29/85 McGill LHL. Died sometime during Feb. ss index does not give date, only month. Check Lexington paper ( ) or St. Petersburg FL. ( ) (outside library) |
| Paul Liberto Lansaw (P) (A) | 1950-51 | - | Middletown, OH | - | 1929 | 12/7/1928 | 12/4/1999 | - | - | Look in Middletown OH paper. Did not find in Newspaperarchive. |
| Ercel Bois Little (P) (A) | 1931-32 | - | Crab Orchard, KY | - | 1909 | 8/14/1908 | 10/15/1987 | Hopkins | Hopkins | Did not mention in LHL (X). Look in Madisonville paper. (Madisonville Messenger S-272) (X) |
| Hays Owens (P) (A) | 1929-30 | - | Lexington, KY | - | 1907 | 11/2/1907 | 7/1/1972 | - | Vincennes, IN | ss index suggests July 1972. Check Vincennes, IN newspaper. ( ) (outside library) |
| Otto George Schwant (P) (A) | 1915-16 | 11/25/1965 (**) | Covington, KY | 11/23/1894 | 1894 | NA | NA | - | Logan, WV | Buried in Lexington. Confirm in Lex papers. ( ) Found short obit in Charleston WV Gazette. |
| Karl Peak Zerfoss (P) (A) | 1915-16 | - | Ashland, KY | 8/31/1893 | 1893 | 1893 | - | Schaumburg IL | Schaumburg IL | Listed in SS as DOD November 1984 in Schaumburg. Check Chicago area papers ( ), Elmhurst ( ) , Schaumburg ( ) (outside library) |
Status: Medium - Based on the evidence at hand, it is believed that there is likely that the date is accurate.
| Player | Last Season Played | Known Date of Death | Hometown (at School) | Known Date of Birth | Estimated Birth Year | Unconfirmed Birth Year | Unconfirmed Date of Death | Unconfirmed Residence | Unconfirmed Place of Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Congleton (P) (A) | 1930-31 | - | - | - | 1910 | 9/21/1911 | 3/8/1993 | Fayette | Fayette | Lex H-L p B4 (3/9/1993) has short obit for William E. Contact W.T. Congleton company in Lexington. ( ) Check ss index for dob. Check Lex Public search. ( ) Also in kyweb a second person, dod 5/8/1977, yob 1913 (william S). Laudeman claims name is Vernon, check ( ) |
| John Scearce Crosthwaite (P) (A) | 1909-10 | - | Lexington, KY | - | 1887 | 1888 | 8/11/1971 | Fayette | Fayette | Check Lexington papers Herald (X) or Leader ( ) |
| Lewis Berkley Davis (P) [Lewis] (A) | 1933-34 | - | Lewisport, KY | - | 1912 | 10/27/1911 | 6/20/1997 | - | Fairfield, Iowa | Believe name is Lewis Berkley Davis. Check Fairfiled IA (outside library) ( ) |
| Chester Duff (P) (A) | 1944-45 | - | Dorfork, KY | - | 1924 | 11/29/1924 | 5/17/2000 | Hazard, KY | - | from Perry County obits online/ Perry County News S/88-030) ( X ) Does not say whether he played at UK or not. Check with Clifford Duff or Roy Edward Duff of New Albany IN (Nephews) |
| Frank Etscorn (P) (A) | 1941-42 | - | Valley Station, KY | 2/23/1921 | 1921 | - | - | Orlando, FL | Orlando, FL | SS has DOD as November 1986 in Orlando FL. Check Florida ( ) (outside library) or Kentucky papers. Herald Leader ( ) . |
| Joseph George Hermann (P) (A) | 1905-06 | - | Newport, KY | - | 1885 | 4/13/1886 | 11/26/1965 | Kenton | Campbell | Check ss and ky index. Didn't have first name previously. Check local Kenton newspaper ( ) |
| Elmer Hopkins (A) | 1914-15 | - | Henderson, KY | - | 1894 | 1894 | 5/26/1980 | Harlan | Harlan | Check Henderson paper (Gleaner S-369) ( ) |
| Ralph G. Jackowski (P) (A) | 1937-38 | - | - | - | 1917 | 5/9/1915 | 8/1/1996 | Orland Park, IL | Orland park, IL | ss index suggests dod. Check Orland Park IL library ( ) (outside source) |
| Karl H. Rohs (P) (A) | 1925-26 | - | Cynthiana, KY | - | 1902 | 1903 | 5/28/1942 | Hardin | Harrison | Name may be Karle. Check county and city again. ( ) ( ) |
| William P. Tuttle (P) (A) | 1914-15 | - | Somerset, KY | - | 1892 | 1892 | 4/1/1981 | - | Yakima WA | Not found in KYWeb. SS lists a William Tuttle who died in Yakima WA on April 1981 with issue in Hawaii. DOB is 1/30/1892. Check Lex paper ( ) , Hawaii paper ( ) (outside source) |
Status: Low - These are considered a low probability that the proposed date is accurate. This may be due to multiple possibilities due to a common name, an age which is different than what is estimated, etc.
| Player | Last Season Played | Known Date of Death | Hometown (at School) | Known Date of Birth | Estimated Birth Year | Unconfirmed Birth Year | Unconfirmed Date of Death | Unconfirmed Residence | Unconfirmed Place of Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Boren (P) (A) | 1923-24 | - | Paducah, KY | - | 1902 | - | 5/1/1978 | Dekalb, GA | - | SS lists a Ralph Boren from Dekalb GA with birth of 9/4/1901 and DOD of April 1978, no date |
| Joe Coons (P) (A) | 1904-05 | - | - | - | 1884 | 1889 | 8/24/1961 | Montgomery | Montgomery | Birth year 5 yrs. from estimate. Not likely. Another option has an unlisted birth year. |
| Fred William Fest (P) (A) | 1922-23 | - | Martins Ferry, OH | - | 1900 | - | - | - | - | In ss index, there was a Frederick Fest with dob 3/6/1897 and dod April 1974 with last residence in Weston, Lewis West Virginia. |
| Jake H. Gaiser (P) (A) | 1911-12 | - | Lexington, KY | - | 1889 | 1890 | 6/1/1978 | New York, NY | - | SS Residence in NY, issued in NY. Est. DOD is June 1978, no day given. Suggested DOB is 8/17/1890 |
| William Goodwin (A) | 1902-03 | - | - | - | 1882 | 1879 | 9/16/1962 | Jefferson | Spencer | Try Louisville newspaper ( ) or Spencer county newspaper. ( ) |
| Charles Keller [Charles] (A) | 1918-19 | - | - | - | 1898 | - | - | - | - | Multiple choices on KYweb. Charles E. (DOB 1902), Charles P. (DOB 1896), Charles P. (DOB 1898) |
| Pat Kelly (A) | 1904-05 | - | - | - | 1884 | 1878 | 4/11/1928 | Kenton | - | - |
| Howard Kreuter (P) (A) | 1932-33 | - | Newport, KY | - | 1911 | 1910 | 4/1/1978 | - | Solano, CA | SS lists a Howard Kreuter born on 2/5/1910 living in California but issued in NC. DOD is April 1978, no date Was in the Army Air Service (last known location Moore Field TX June 1943. Was a corporal. |
| Nick Lutz (P) (A) | 1935-36 | - | - | - | 1915 | - | - | - | - | ss index suggests two possibles under Nicholas Lutz. One dob 1/24/1914 dod 9/86 in Elizabeth NJ. the other dob 6/14/1913, dod 9/24/1994 Illinois, died in Austin TX. |
| Ralph Morgan (P) (A) | 1914-15 | - | Covington, KY | - | 1892 | 6/8/1891 | - | Miami Fl | - | There is a Ralph Morgan, dob 6/8/1891 with ss issued in Kentucky and dod Feb 1984 in Miami Fl. Check kyweb to confirm dob and hometown. Check Miami Fl newspaper |
| Ed Pierce (A) | 1902-03 | - | - | - | 1882 | - | 1/11/1921 | Garrard | - | No age given at time of death. Low prob. |
| Charles Spillman (P) (A) | 1922-23 | - | - | - | 1901 | Unknown | 9/11/1961 | Barren | Barren | KYweb hit has Unlisted age. Very low prob. |
| Lovell Thornton Underwood (P) (A) | 1925-26 | - | Lexington, KY | - | 1903 | 1902 | 7/13/1997 | - | Bellevue WA | SS lists a Lovell T Underwood with DOB of 12/13/1902, DOD of 7/13/1997 and resident in Bellevue WA. WA paper does not have details. (outside library) |
| John Vogt (A) | 1902-03 | - | - | 1/4/1878 | 1878 | - | - | - | - | Three possibilities. 7/9/1956 (born approx 1876) in Jefferson; John F 7/18/31(born approx 1880) in Jefferson or John H 6/7/66 (born approx 1883) in McCracken. The 7/18/31 date looks most promising. |
| J. Rice Walker (P) (A) | 1937-38 | - | Lexington, KY | - | 1915 | 1918 | 3/6/1961 | Russell | Fayette | Not likely given 3 yr spread and no detail on name. Try indexes again. Try Herald (11/5/1956) p. 16 col. 3. |
| Charles Worthington (P) (A) | 1931-32 | - | Louisville, KY | - | 1910 | 1914 | 5/18/1997 | Boone | Boone | Not likely given geography and spread. |
| George M. Yates (P) (A) | 1932-33 | - | Elizabethtown, KY | - | 1910 | - | - | - | - | According to ss index, There is a George Yates born 1/28/1910, dod April 1982 Bardwell, Carlisle KY. Another George Yates born 9/17/1912, dod Dec 1976 with last resident Franklin, Simpson KY. |
