The summer of 1955 would be one of change for the Kentucky and Indiana All-Star basketball squads and their new found “series.”  The annual basketball battle between these bordering states had advanced to a series the two years prior thanks to Bruce Hall.  The innovative Hale had pieced together a series in 1953 and 1954 by bringing the Indiana All-Star to Louisville to play their Kentucky counterparts before their “home folks”.  Indiana officials were not very fond of Hale’s “notion” for the second game (especially after he “borrowed” their uniforms for the 1953 game) but after two very successful outings on the south side of the Ohio River, Indiana decided to move forward and recognize the “series.”

Up to this point, the Hoosier state had enjoyed great success in their summer clash with Kentucky.  Indiana had won 15 of the 16 games and were on a twelve game winning streak.  There were several theories to why the outcome of the games had been so one sided.  Some Bluegrass backer felt that Ed Diddle, the Kentucky All-Star coach, selected the team based on who he wanted to recruit for his Western Kentucky University program, and left off some of the better players he couldn’t get to play for the Hilltoppers.  Others believed it was due to Kentucky not having African American players on its roster.  Indiana had selected an African American, George Crowe, their first “Mr. Basketball” in 1939 and regularly featured black players on their squads.  Still, some Kentuckians were convinced Indiana was “just plain cheat’n.”

Whatever the case, Kentucky set out to rectify its deficiencies in 1955.  For the first time, the All-Stars from Kentucky would be selected by the game sponsors was and by votes from the media in addition to the head coach.  The first player chosen by the games sponsors was one of Kentucky all-time great prep player, Kenny Kuhn of Male High School.  Kuhn was a phenomenal three sport super star who was the state’s first player to earn All-State First team in basketball three straight seasons.  He was named Kentucky’s “Mr. Basketball,” the first to be selected by a state wide vote.  The sponsors and coach announced their second on May 18, 1955 of John “Pie” Liveious of Louisville Central.  Liveious was a 17 year old African American who as a 6’4” center had led Louisville Central to a national title while earning All-Nation and All-State honors.  The remainder of the squad would be chosen over a three week period by the media with Saint Henry’s Julian Steffen selection coming on June 10, one day before practice was set to begin.  The remainder of the squad in the order they were selected included; Johnny Cox of Hazard, Terry Randall of Adair County, Donnis Butcher of Meade Memorial, Larry McDonald of Burkesville, Ed Huffman of Newport, Joe Viviano of St. Xavier, Bobby Austin of Paducah Tilghman, and Steffen.

Kentucky and Indiana also agreed to allow two alternates to take part in the series this summer.  Oddly, the alternates would practice with the team, but would not take part in the actual games unless one of the All-Stars were unable to play.  The selections were left to the media, who would choose one, while Diddle would choose the other.  The players named as alternatives were John McClearn of Madisonville and Livious’ teammate at Louisville Central, Jim Beck.  When practice began at Western Kentucky June 11 the team was missing three of its players, but by the next day with the arrival of Cox and Viviano, Diddle was in good spirits.  His last “star” Kuhn was in Brooklyn trying out for the Dodgers’ baseball team.

Following a week of two-a-day practices, the team loaded up a car and drove the 240 mile trip to Indianapolis two days prior to the game.  Dressed in new red uniforms, the Kentucky squad jumped out to a 16-4 lead behind the play of Cox and Kuhn.  The Kentucky lead expanded to 26-10 as Liveious dominated the game inside with several key rebounds.  But, as had happened in each of the past ten meetings, the All-Stars from Indiana stormed back to trail 75-76 in the game’s fourth quarter much to the delight of the 13,264 fans in Butler Fieldhouse.  As that point in the game Kentucky’s Kuhn was called for a charging violation (much like Vern Hatton had been charged with in the ’53 game) and Indiana’s Jim Henry made both of the ensuing free throws before nailing a long one-hander to put the Hoosiers up for good 79-76.  Indiana went on to a 94-86 victory behind Henry’s 17 point effort.  Kuhn was magnificent, totaling 25 points while connecting on 13 of 15 free throws, a record that still stands for Kentucky in free throws made in a game.  Liveious proved to be a key figure on the Kentucky side as he scored 12 points and collected countless rebounds.  Still the taste of defeat was in the mouths of the Kentucky players for the thirteenth straight time.

As in the previous two years in Louisville, the sponsors put a new twist into the game.  This year they invited the Governors of both states to the All-Star event.  Kentucky’s Governors Lawrence Wetherby offered to, “sit with Uncle Ed and the boys on the bench if it’ll help him beat those Hoosiers”.  Another change was the addition of Beck as a replacement for Steffen who left the team following the first game on Saturday night.

Playing before another sellout crowd of 6,500 at the Louisville Armory the Hoosiers charged out to an early 9-4 lead before Kentucky regrouped to move ahead 14-13.  Indiana trailed until the start of the third quarter when they took a two point advantage at 41-39, but Cox, who totaled 21 points in the game scored three goals.  He, Kuhn, and Liveious than took over and pushed the Kentucky lead to 58-47 with less than six minutes left and it appeared the “Hoosier hex” was about to be broken.  But as had been the case in the past six meeting, Indiana rallied and tied the score 60-60, only to have Liveious and Kuhn answer with six straight points early in the fourth quarter.  Indiana would not go away and tied the game once more at 69-69 before Cox scored on a fast break.  With Kentucky leading 74-72 Diddle put his team into a stall to ice the game, but Indiana’s Henry forced Kuhn into a turnover with 40 seconds left.  Following a time-out by the Hoosiers, Henry drove into the left side corner and connected on a one-hander to knot the score at 74-74 with 31 seconds left.  Kentucky failed to score and the home team was forced into overtime.

In the extra period, Cox continued to come up big as he connected on a reverse lay-up before Butcher scored on a fast break helping Kentucky build a 81-74 lead.  Indiana made the game close, but Kentucky claimed their first win in ten years and thirteen tries with an 86-82 overtime victory.

Liveious was named the game’s “Star of Stars” and was presented the award by Governor Wetherby.  The Central star tallied 27 points and helped Kentucky pound Indiana on the defensive boards as he grabbed 17 rebounds.

More changes were on the horizon.  Diddle would only coach one more season, giving way to high school coaches, but the foundations of the series were set to become the greatest All-Star event in the nation!

Game One at Indianapolis

Game Two at Louisville

Every year since 1940- with the exception of the World War II years of 1943 and 1944 – the outstanding, graduating high school seniors from *Kentucky and Indiana have met in an all-star basketball game that ranks as oldest and most successful of its kind in the nation.”

Steeped in tradition and marked by an intense rivalry, the series has involved scores of young athletes who went on to make significant contributions to their sport at the college and professional levels.

More than 1,000 young athletes have taken part in the games, including such outstanding athletes as Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, Wes Unseld, Terry Dischinger, Tom and Dick VanArsdale, George McGinnis, Rex Chapman, Rick Mount, Clyde Lovellette, Junior Bridgeman, Ralph Beard, Frank Ramsey, Steve Alford, Jeff Mullins, Kent Benson, Butch Beard, Jimmy Dan Conner, Darrell Griffith, Allan Houston and Derek Anderson.

Youngsters in the two states regard the Kentucky- Indiana series as a premier event.  Indeed, many All-stars have said they began pointing toward the game as early as grade school.

The titles of Mr. and Miss Basketball – considered the most prestigious honor bestowed on high school basketball players in Kentucky and Indiana designate the recipients as each state’s outstanding senior players.

Additionally, it affords the honor of wearing the No. 1 jersey for his or her team when Kentucky and Indiana meet each year.

The Kentucky- Indiana All-Star Games started in 1940.  From 1940 through 1954 a single game (in Indianapolis) was played each year.  A home-and-home format was instituted in 1955, then in 1976 a girls’ series was added.

From the late 1950s, the Kentucky- Indiana series was governed by NCAA rules specifying that proceeds must go to a bonafide charity.

The guidelines evolved to include a profit-loss clause, the main rule declaring that game expense could not exceed 60 percent of the gross gate proceeds.  There were other regulations to comply with: Game promoters were not allowed to give players anything except their game uniform; a medical doctor had to be on 24-hour call during practice sessions leading up to the game; full medical insurance coverage was required for each player, and a physician was to give each player a full physical when he or she reported to camp.

In 1988 the NCAA adopted a hands off policy on all-star games staged after the end of the school year.  Thus, Kentucky- Indiana even is no longer subject to NCAA regulations.

The games in Kentucky are sponsored by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation, proceeds go to provide eye clinics to those in need, corneal tissue for eye surgery through the Eye Banks and equipment and funding for eye research in the causes and cures of blinding diseases.  While the Indiana portion of the series is sponsored by The Indianapolis Star, with proceeds going to The Star’s Fund for the Blind.

More than 2 million has been raised by the games in Kentucky and Indiana since 1946, to benefit the blind.

*All-Star Memories, A History of The Indianapolis Star’s Indiana- Kentucky High School All-Star Basketball Series 1939-1989

A Salute to Coach Hines 49 Years of Coaching 885/493

Native of Science Hill, Kentucky.  Earned a scholarship to Lindsey Wilson Junior College and then played under Paul McBrayer at Eastern Kentucky.  Did graduate work at Indiana University.  Took Somerset High to back-to-back State Tournaments in the early 60’s.  Named Kentucky Junior College Conference Coach of the Year three times while coaching at Lindsey Wilson.  Named Gulf South Coach of the Year in 1976 and 77 while coaching Mississippi College.  Named the Region two Coach of the Year by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches two straight years while at Union County High.

Coached three first team All Americans while at Lindsey Wilson: Doug Pendygraft, Keith Brown and Bennie Coffman.  Coffman and Pendygraft played for UK and Brown for the Washington Huskies.

While some measure success in awards and honors, Dr. Doug Hines measures it by the number of students and basketball players he’s instilled with a sense of pride and hard work to make their lives a success.

THANK YOU

From All Your Friends.

Ralph Beard Life-Time Achievement Award

The Ralph Beard Life Time Achievement Award is given by the Mr. Basketball Fraternity to recognize an individual touched by the All-Star experience, whose full life’s work whether it is in basketball or some other walk of life they have excelled in.

Ralph Beard was a Kentucky All-Star in 1945.  He was one of the “Fabulous-Five” from the 1945 University of Kentucky team that won back to back NCAA Championships in 1948 and 1949.  He also won a National Invitational Tournament Championship and an Olympic Gold Medal.  In 1951, he was a member of the first NBA All-Star Team.  Mr. Beard passed away in November 2007.

Past recipients are Randy Embry, Jim McDaniels and Ron King

Bill (Billy Ray) Lickert

Billy Ray Lickert is a 1957 graduate of Lafayette High School where he was the school’s all time leading scorer.  During his senior year in 1957, he was a leader of Kentucky’s High School Championship Team.  He was named Mr. Basketball the same year.

Mr. Lickert was named All-State in 1956 and 1957 and played in the All-State Tournament Basketball Team in 1956 and 1957.  He helped the Kentucky All-Stars beat the Indiana All-Stars both years he played.

In addition to being an inaugural member of Kentucky Lions Basketball Hall of Fame, he was selected as one of 50 members of the “All-Time Kentucky State Basketball (Best) Team of Modern Era (1945-1996).”

After High School Mr. Lickert enrolled in the University of Kentucky in 1957.  He graduated in 1961.

During College, he was named “First Team All-Sectional” in 1959, 1960, and 1961.  The accolades continued to roll in and in 1961 he was named a “Second Team All-American,” and was named a member of the “1,000 Point Club.”  At graduation he was ranked #9 career points.  The Los Angeles Lakers drafted him in 1961.

Mr. Lickert continued to excel in his business career.  He worked at Mason & Hanger Corporation for 39 years before retiring in 2000, where he served as an accountant, Chief Financial Officer, as well as treasurer and director.  Currently he is a Director for two charitable foundations—The Telford Foundation and the Mason Foundation.

He and his wife Sue have been married for 53 years and are parents to two songs, Doug and Dick.  Mr. Lickert and his wife are University of Kentucky Fellows and have established the William R. and Sue P. Lickert Scholorship.  He has been a member of the Rotary Club for 32-years and a Paul Harris Fellow.