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Jeff Sheppard, John Pelphrey, Rick Pitino, Billy Gillispie, Mitch Barnhart, Joe B. Hall Interviews with Mr. Keightley about UK basketball from the Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History
Being new to the scene, first-year Kentucky Coach Billy Gillispie was puzzled by how much time equipment manager Bill Keightley spent with Lexington banker Luther Deaton.
“There was a big age difference,” Gillispie said on Tuesday. “I was wondering why they were such good friends.
“A very short time later, I wanted to spend all my time around Mr. Keightley. It didn’t take long to figure out he can change your life. …
“He’s gone. But his spirit is going to live forever.”
Keightley, 81, died on Monday while making his annual trip to Cincinnati to watch the Reds play their opening game of the baseball season. He fell, which required a trip to the University of Cincinnati hospital. Internal bleeding resulting from a previously undiagnosed tumor caused his death, a hospital spokesman said.
Gillispie recalled Keightley at a news conference on Tuesday. More than 30 UK Athletic Association personnel, including seven players and several managers came to hear Gillispie talk about the man known affectionately as “Mr. Wildcat.” They hugged and spoke quietly until Gillispie arrived, his puffy eyes reddened and teeth biting his lip.
“Many others are much more deserving to have the opportunity of speaking of Bill because of longevity of so many great times they spent with him,” said Gillispie, who called his association with Keightley “one of the most (quivering pause) joyous times of my life.”
Gillispie recalled Keightley’s reaction after Kentucky’s gallant attempt to win at Tennessee without freshman star Patrick Patterson. The Wildcats came up three points short.
“He was crying like a baby because he was so proud of his Wildcats,” Gillispie said.
Gillispie described Keightley as a one-man injection of enthusiasm and wise counselor. Of the latter, Gillispie said Keightley advised him to attend this year’s Sweet Sixteen high school basketball tournament because the event meant so much to Kentuckians.
“He loved Kentucky fans,” the UK coach said. “Maybe some loved Kentucky fans more than he did, but I don’t see how they could. No way anyone could love a school, a university, a town, the players, the former players, the coaches, no way anyone could love them more.”
Keightley generally did not foist advice on anyone, Gillispie said. But he also wasn’t shy about offering an opinion.
“He knew everyone we were supposed to be recruiting,” Gillispie said. “He wanted input.”
When asked why so many former UK coaches became close to Keightley, Gillispie spoke of a selfless devotion to UK basketball and a commendable discretion.
“I know he didn’t always agree with everything I did because he has so much wisdom and knowledge,” the UK coach said. “But you’d never know he didn’t agree with everything you did.”
UK was not sure how to honor Keightley next season. Black patch on the uniform? Seat kept empty on the bench?
The school has retired a jersey in his honor, making Keightley one of only two non-players or non-coaches to be so recognized (the late radio play-by-play man Cawood Ledford is the other).
“One of the highest honors ever given to anyone,” Gillispie said before adding, “But that’s not nearly enough. Over time, the right people will recover their emotions and make great decisions on what needs to be done.”
UK player Ramel Bradley noted how he had to share his nickname “Smooth” with Keightley. The equipment manager was “Big Smooth” to Bradley’s “Little Smooth.”
In speaking of their relationship, Bradley said, “He made me feel I was his favorite. The thing about it is he made everybody feel that way.”
Fellow senior Joe Crawford said Keightley did not act his age.
“You wouldn’t think younger players would want to be around him,” Crawford said, “but we wanted to be around him.”
Zach Murphy, a senior manager from Peoria, Ill., sniffled back tears through much of the 20-minute news conference. He said Keightley taught the managers, or “his boys,” as he called them, lessons about work ethic, respect for others and the proper way to act.
Another manager, Dustin Marr, said Keightley even volunteered advice on the managers’ love lives.
Upon learning that Marr was dating another UKAA staffer, Keightley advised marriage.
“I needed to go ahead and make sure that deal sticks,” Marr said of Keightley’s advise. “Make it happen.”
Marr, a native of Macon County in Tennessee, said he planned to follow that advice once he finished school.
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