Former UK basketball great passes away

[WildcatRick]

Basketball great, teacher and preacher Shelby Linville, who won two state championships at Middletown High School and a national championship at University of Kentucky, died today, Aug. 5. He was 78.

Linville, who was born in Dayton, Ky., on Nov. 8, 1929, moved to Middletown when he was 15.

Linville played for the Middletown Middies in 1946-47, the late coach Paul Walker's first year at the helm. At 6-foot-5, Linville was considered a giant at the time.

The Middies won the state title in Linville's junior season.

In his senior year, Linville set a team record with 39 points against Dayton Fairview, a record that stood until Jerry Lucas came along a few years later.

When Linville was looking for a college, teammates urged him to call Adolph Rupp, the legendary UK coach who was the guest speaker at the Middies banquet honoring the '47 state champs. Linville signed at UK and averaged 10.4 points per game in his junior season. He was being hailed as an All-American candidate for his senior year.

http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/08/05/mj080608linvilleobit.html

[Terry L. Wildcat]

This is sad news and I didn't realize he was a northern Kentucky guy...Dayton, Kentucky is where John Wooden had his first coaching job and is the northern most city in The Commonwealth...RIP Wildcat.

[John Clay Rice Jr.]

That's sad.:icon_sad:

[crazzedcats22]

Sad news indeed...rest in peace

[freethrow]

Sad News. RIP, Mr. Linville

[CatFanInTheBathtub]

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Graphics/Players/shelby_linville.jpg

I'll be honest, I've never heard of the guy. But reading that article is the kind of thing that makes me proud to be a Kentucky guy. Mr. Shelby deserves to be honored since not only was he a two-time state champ at Middie, a key contributor on a national title team at UK, but was apparently a key human being too. Used his own money to help build churches, had 3 sons, and 10 grandchildren. I'm sure they're all heartbroken. Losing a grandfather just plain sucks.

His passing has at least given this Wildcat fan another reason to appreciate our history. Another gentleman who meant so much to this program. In 1950-51 we had 4 guys make all-sec, and with Bill Spivey, Bobby Watson, and Frank Ramsey, Mr. Linville made it. On top of that, Bill and Shelby also made the all-final four team. No wonder we won the title, we were loaded !

I started going through his stats and it seems his best career game was against UL in '50-'51. 23 points on 9 FGs, 5-5 from the line. also rose to the occasion against ut with 20 points on 9FGs, also 18 against syracuse and 19 against vandy. And as the article said, hit the game winner against the Illini in the final four.

My favorite part of the article though, well, two favorites are this statement from the 1951-52 media guide :
"one of the greatest clutch players in Kentucky's cage history."

and this quote from his close friend Jim Porter :
Through all his medical battles, Porter said Linville "fought like a Wildcat."

[SamKat]

I was privileged to see and speak with Shelby and his family at Jim Porter's Kentucky Convention recently in July. He came in on a walker and sat in the first row just ahead of my friend George Butler and myself. He had the opening prayer. He had coached at Sandy Hook, KY early on in his career. My wife's parents were from Sandy Hook.

He played for Paul Walker, Ohio's greatest high school basketball coach and Adolph Rupp, the world's greatest college basketball coach. Jesus always has him in his starting lineup.

Mr. Linville was Rudyard Kipling's "If" personified. The man was tough but oh so gentle.

[cumberlandredskin]

I'm sorry to hear about this. He was before my time but he was one of the many who helped build the legacy and tradition of UK basketball. RIP Mr. Linville.

[Ukosumu]

My prayers for his family and loved ones. He lived what most of only dream of.

[WildcatRick]

Shelby Linville, who played on the University of Kentucky's 1950-51 national championship basketball team, has died. He was 78.

Phil Linville said his father died of cancer yesterday at a nursing home in Middletown.

Linville, who earned three letters at UK, was a junior when the Wildcats went 32-2 and beat Kansas State for the NCAA championship in 1951. He made the All-Final Four team and was second-team All-Southeastern Conference.

The 6-foot-5 forward's career high was 23 points in a 79-68 victory over the University of Louisville in the first round of the '51 NCAA Tournament.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080806/SPORTS03/808060850

[Sam K.]

SamKat alluded to the annual convention in Middletown. I did not attend this year, but probably have attended at least 5 in the past. IIRC, he was always there. What a warm, godly man. He is someone I feel privileged to have met.
Thanks to those that posted the two different links. The KENTUCKY ENQUIRER also has a nice write-up this morning.