How should UK honor Mr. Wildcat?

Kevin e-mails on this sad morning, "I think to honor Mr. Keightley, the bench should designate an empty chair all season for him or retire the spot where he sat.  I understand Cawood has his section, etc.  Mr. Keightley seemed to be an inspiration to all his former players.  Just wondered if you could put that out there as a possibility for the university."

I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts about how to honor Bill Keightley, who passed away Monday night at the age of 81. Or just your thoughts in general on Mr. Wildcat, and what he meant to the UK program.

As luck would have it, I had just seen last Thursday in Charlotte, where Keightley was sitting in the Louisville cheering section to watch his good friend Rick Pitino coach against Tennessee in the NCAA East Regional semifinals. "Hey, Johnnnny," he called out when I saw him. "Look at you," I called back, seeing him sitting among all those U of L fans. He just grinned.

Hard to believe that four days later, Bill is no longer with us.

Let me know your thoughts.

More e-mail:

• Tricia writes, "I just heard the DJ's on the radio ask all Kentucky fans to hang their UK flags outside for the next few days.  Whether it be the flag on the front of your house or your car flag that waves on gamedays, I think this would be a nice gesture to honor our friend Mr. Wildcat."

• Brad writes, "Get all past present players and coaches and take a group photo and sell the posters with the proceeds going to a Bill “Mr. Wildcat” Keightley scholarship fund for future students at UK. Photo could be taken at Rupp Arena Mr. Wildcat's 2nd home."

• Chuck writes, " believe Bill should be remembered far more than just one season. I can tell you a little story about how I met Bill. One day My uncle came up to me and told me he was going to be in a wedding, A wedding that was of Bill's Daughter. I really didn't know who Bill was or even much of the Wildcats. I went with my uncle to Lexington, and we stayed all night, as he was Rehearsing for the wedding. At the Rehearsal dinner Bill was there, yet I showed up in my Louisville Cardinals T-shirt, Now John you have to know that this was in like 1990's Rick Pitino was coaching. Well Bill comes up to me and talks to me, asking me where I got that shirt, I just laughed and said no particular place. I had a passion for basketball. We talked for a great deal, we talked about the kids in the state of Ky. I am from Corbin, Ky. So he knew a lot about all the great players in the state. He said you have a kid down in Corbin that is pretty good, talking about Tony Peitrowski. I said yeah i know him, we are pretty good friends. Well to make a long story short, Bill turned me into a KENTUCKY FAN.....He sent me a basketball signed by Rick Pitino..If it weren't for Bill, I really don't know where I would be at this point..Bill Reached out to just more that Players, he reached out to Everyone."

• This isn't an e-mail, but here's the statement from Tubby Smith about Bill, "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.”

• Austin writes, "Without question, leaving the empty seat on the bench is the right thing to do."

• Doug from Atlanta writes, "A friend asked me why Mr. Keightley was such an icon.  (Who wouldn't sit on that bench for all those years?) I think he is considered an "icon" because he represents a sense of continuity in the program, and with a sort of everyman persona.  Fans might consider him their representative -- a regular guy who is with the program up or down, through one coaching regime to the next.  Coaches and players come and go, but the fans of the progam -- and Mr. Wildcat -- remain."

• Frances writes, "The court in Rupp Arena should be named “Bill Keightley Court” !!!!!" (I believe it is already named 'Cawood's Court.'"

• Frank writes, "I called in on the Jack Pattie show this morning(just after Scott) and suggested that a nice tribute to Mr. Wildcat would be to have his chair(empty) just where he sat for so many years on the bench.  On the leather cover, "Mr. Wildcat" with the UK logo beneath his name."

Comments

[Big Blue Barry]

I never had the privilege of meeting Mr. Wildcat but I felt as if I lost a member of my family last night when I heard about his passing. He was living the dream of so many of us UK fans. I wish they would honor him by leaving his chair empty next season. Maybe name that area "Keightly's Korner."

If the rest of the big blue nation who never met him is taking this hard, I can only imagine how rough it must be on his closest friends and family.

You will be missed Mr. Wildcat. You will be missed...

[trsvyork]

I totally agree with Kevin. I have posted the exact same thing on other blogs. I really hope the University will do it. I think it is the perfect honor for him. It will show how much respect is felt for him and that no one will ever be able to take his place. Then 30 years from now a kid will ask why no one ever sits in that seat and the story of Mr. Wildcat will be told.

[joe gibson]

give him a Bluegrass green burial on the 50 yard line

[Rob]

I think an empty seat would be called for all of next season. But I think another option would be designating either the locker room at the Craft Center or one of the practice courts with his name. As the equipment manager, that's where most of his work took place--behind the scenes.

I only met him once during a tour of the Craft Center but you could tell that he was one of those people that never met a stranger. I love somebody like that.

[Kim]

I too like the idea of leaving his seat at the end of the bench empty. I have been watching UK basketball for my entire life and can't remember ever watching a game where he wasn't right there behind the coach next to the scorer's table. It would be a fitting (and visible) way to honor him especially since the equipment room at Memorial is already named in his honor.

[Louise]

Similar to Caywood Ledford's memorial I would like to see a permanant memorial applied to the court in front of his chair at Rupp.

[Mike Sumner]

The first thing I thought of this AM, when I read the report about his death, was that the chair he sit in, by the scorer's table, should be empty all season. That, at least, would be fitting.

[Allen]

When I think of Bill Keightley, the word empty does *not* come to mind. Although the initial thought of an empty chair serves as a remembrance, I think something more substantial should be done on his behalf.

Rather than empty, let's use something along the word *complete*. Maybe a portrait or statue that is predominant in the UK basketball facility...

[Brandon Painter]

I have gone back and forth on this thinking how to honor such a great man. From naming the court to a statue but I feel that Bill's chair the first on the bench (even in front of the coach's chair for many of years)should have a special memorial chair to replace it and never be used again as a tribute to the time and deedication this great man has put into the Wildcat organization. We will never forget him and his memeory will live on through thousands of great stories but the generations to come should also know of Mr. Wildcat and what he has meant to thousands of people across the nation and to the greatest program in country.

[trsvyork]

Allen it it would not be empty it would be reserved for Mr. Keightley.

[mike]

I think whoever fills that position should still retain the job title "Assistant Equipment Manager." Of course, the salary can be negotiated as needed, but it would show that Mr. Keightley's spirit is still the head Equipment Manager for UK basketball & that position will never be vacated.

[Angi]

I just cannot stop crying. I have never done before when I didn't know the person who passed away. I just feel heartsick about this. For me its just that a man that I have never seen off the bench will never ever be there again. He was Kentucky to me as much as Rupp Arena. It just seems to me that he should always be there. I am way to emotional right now for me to really say what is the right thing to do to remember him but I will say that I like the empty seat idea simply because you cannot replace him. Will never happen. Just like ole Cawood. I cannot listen to the radio without missing him. I cannot imagine looking at that bench without missing him ever again. I just hope that UK or someone provides a video link so those of us not living in Kentucky can watch the memorial service.

[Gregg]

Mr. Bill was so important to Kentuckians everywhere because he was one of us. He was not a coach or a player. He lived and died Kentucky just like we do. But if you ever had the honor of meeting him, you knew that he had the amazing ability to make you feel like the most special person in the world. That I guess is what I will never forget about Mr. Bill. He never forgot a name. He was funny and he cared about everyone whether they were rich or poor, black or white. Nothing will ever be the same at Kentucky. God bless

[Dr. Michael W. Dukes]

John
I agree with Frank's previous comments...an empty chair..leather cover...with Mr. Wildcat....on it...at his spot on the end of the bench...from now on.

[KY FANS FROM CATLANTA]

Certainly will not be the same without Mr. Keightley setting there on the sidelines, regular guy just like us, watching our Cats.

God Bless!

[David]

I like the seat Idea and I also think that when the new arena gets built name it after him, or maybe if possible to add to the floor a UK Blue Circle with his name and years of dedicated service on the floor where he sat.

I like the setting up of the Mr Wildcat Scholarship fund also.

[Erin]

I am not sure there is a fitting tribute to such a great man.But I the idea of leaving his seat empty for next season[maybe beyond ]And on the seat cover or on the floor in front of the seat simply put Mr Wildcat Bill Kieghtley or something else very simple.

[Travis]

I never got the pleasure to meet Mr. Wildcat personally. The first thought that jumped in MY head was to keep an empty seat where he used to sent. Then I thought about what HE would want. Do you really think he would want that seat to be empty? I don't think so. I think he would have wanted that seat to go to those young wildcat fans who will cheer us into the next generation. Have a lottery system setup for the <14 boys and girls out there in our great state, so that they have a shot at sitting in Mr. Wildcat's chair and seeing the game from the floor. Mark Story talked about Bill Keightley being the heart of Kentucky Basketball. As an icon, I agree, but as a former child in this great state, I know that the heart of kentucky basketball lies within the youth. Those who dream of playing with Kentucky on their jersey. Believe me, nothing would have meant more to me than sitting right there on the bench, and I dreamed of doing it from time to time. Mr. Keightley will be missed, however his spirit will live on. Let's do something big here folks. And go big blue....forever.

[Travis]

I went back and read everybody's comments just now. Personally, I agree with the empty seat, but as the grandfather figure I picture Mr. Keightley being, I think he would be disappointed to find that seat empty. Perhaps some young starry-eyed boy or girl can sit there each game and imagine themselves being a wildcat.....

[Bob]

Seems to me that leaving his seat empty would be kind of sad, I have an idea for a happier and lasting legacy.

Mr. Keightley was always known as being first and foremost a fan of UK and just "one of us". What if UK were to honor him by choosing a fan for each home game to be Mr. Wildcat for a day. Bring them to the game, let them come out with the team, be announced as today's Mr. or Mrs. Wildcat and sit in his seat for the game. No celebrities, just normal everyday UK fans. This could be a lasting legacy to the memory of UK's biggest fan.

[Sam]

Each season should have a Bill Keightley Day in his honor. Perhaps the first weekend SEC game. Have free tours of Memorial Coliseum, the new practice facility, and Rupp Arena. Open more eyes to the behind the scenes of UK basketball and honor Bill at the same time.

[RAYMOND DANIEL]

SIR:
I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT UK PUT A STAR ON THE FLOOR AT THE END OF THE BENCH WHERE HE SAT WITH HIS NAME AND MR. WILDCAT ON THE STAR.

[Dr. John Parsons]

The KHSAA could honor him by naming the State Tournament Championship Trophy, "The Keightley Trophy".

[Roland Brown]

This truly is a passing of an era for me, I was raised up on UK basketball by my grandmother she was a rabid fan, who could be the biggest critic of the program yet the most dedicated and fired up fan at the same time. I knew she was truly UK crazy when she had a heart attack during a UK games in the 80's and refused to go with the EMT's until the basketball game was over. While in the hospital she hand quilted a UK quilt which my brother still has to this day. We would sit and listen to the games and watch them on TV with the sound turned down just to hear Cawood do play by play. But sadly she passed away about 8 years ago, then I lost Cawood, and now one more person from that era in my life has passed away. For those who ask why Mr. Keightly is such an icon, all they would have to do is look at the size of his heart, not just for UK Basketball, but basketball in Kentucky in general, his passion to see Kentucky boys take that court and play, his passion to promote his program, because lets face it was and always will be his program, and mainly his passion to better his fellow man. I know for me and the rest of the UK nation it is a sad day indeed. As for how they should honor MR. Keightley I think they should honor him every season by leaving his seat open on that bench, and I think we should honor him everyday by devoting our lives to something and being as passionate about it as he was about UK Basketball

[J]

Just think of the number of players and coaches from UK's past that will come and pay their respects for this great man. I think a poster of all living players and coaches would raise a great amount for a scholarship fund.