The Spirit of the Program....

On Monday evening we here in the Big Blue Nation lost not just a man, but the spirit of the program...Bill Keightley also know affectionatly as Mr. Bill or Mr. Wildcat. I heard the news first from my sister who is the bar manager at Merrick Inn which was a favorite joint of Bill Keightley, Tubby Smith, and Billy Gillespie. Monday night was her last night there as she's moving to Merrick's sister restraunt as manager and Keightley was supposed to come say goodbye, instead we all must say goodbye to a one of a kind man. In numerous tributes, comments, and descriptions of Mr. Bill he's been potrayed as a brother, father, grand-father, best friend, the most generous person I've ever known, and a man who never seemed to have a bad day cause he was always smiling.

Mr. Wildcat by the numbers
2: One of only two non-players or coaches to have his name hoisted into Rupp Arena rafters. The other was longtime broadcaster Cawood Ledford.
3: UK NCAA titles at which Keightley sat courtside.
6: Head coaches Keightley served under (Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Eddie Sutton, Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, Billy Gillispie).
8: UK trips to Final Four at which Keightley sat courtside.
12: Southeastern Conference Tournament titles during his tenure.
19: All-Americans who have gone through UK in Keightley’s tenure.
24: Won or shared UK Southeastern Conference regular-season championships
48: Seasons as equipment manager on UK bench.
57: Percentage of games in the 105-year history of UK basketball in which Keightley worked.
1,113: Wins he witnessed from UK bench.

A longtime employee of the U.S. Postal Service, Keightley joined the UK basketball family in 1962 through the efforts of one of his buddies at the post office. George Hukle was also a letter carrier as well as Adolph Rupp’s equipment manager. Hukle brought Keightley on to help him wash Kentucky jerseys and hand towels to UK players and do all the other things that went with that job. Until Monday’s freak accident, Keightley never left. He was on the Kentucky bench the night of the famous loss to Texas Western in the 1966 NCAA finals. He was there when UK ruined Indiana’s unbeaten season in the ’75 Mideast Region finals. Jack Givens’ 41-point game in the ’78 national championship game. Rex Chapman’s freshman tour de force vs. Louisville in 1986. The Laettner Shot. The Mardi Gras Miracle. National titles in 1996 and ’98. Joe Crawford’s valiant 35-point game in this year’s NCAA loss to Marquette, Keightley was the link to all of them.

Not only was Keightley the equipment manager for the team, but also a friend, brother, father, confidant, mentor, and example to many players and coaches. He treated everyone the same and many people of all ages considered him their best friend because thats just how he made you feel when you talked to him. Former All American player Kenny Walker said, "coaches, players, and managers came and went but you always knew you could count on Mr. Bill to be there." Another story that I will remember is when his knees began to fail him, his supervisor at the post office told him they would provide him with a jeep so he could work his route. Mr. Keightley looked at him and said, "A postman walks and carries a bag, you can keep your jeep, I quit!" If it was a job worth doing then Mr. Wildcat did it right even if it meant washing jersey's till the early morning after roadtrips or running errands for the basketball team.

Rest in peace Mr. Wildcat, you will always be loved and remembered and can never be replaced. Bill Keightley was a shining example of a "rich" man, doing what he loved without much monetary reward but with a wealth of experiences and friends. Many should try to follow his example as the best way to remember a great man. UK Basketball will never be the same!