Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Kentucky Football Bear Boy Reunion

Bear’s Boys” Reunion June 19-20: The “Bear’s Boys,” former University of Kentucky football players under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, will have a reunion Friday and Saturday, June 19-20, in Lexington.

At least 30 of the Bear’s Boys plan to attend the event, according to Dick Rushing and Bill Evans, who are helping coordinate the reunion. Among the returnees who have committed to participate are:
• quarterback/placekicker George Blanda, who guided the Wildcats to their first bowl game (and win) in school history, and went on to the longest career in pro football history
• All-America quarterback Babe Parilli, who led UK to consecutive appearances in the Orange, Sugar and Cotton bowls
• UK football/basketball legend Wallace “Wah Wah” Jones, the only player to have his jersey retired in both sports

In addition to Blanda, Jones and Parilli, the tentative list of attendees includes Tommy Adkins, Chuck Bell, Jim Bowie, Bill Chambers, Bill Evans, Bob Fry, Ed Hamilton, Jim Hardin, Bob Holt, James Howe, Harry Jones, Lou Karibo, Joe Koch, Neil Lowry, Chet Lukowski, Ken Lutz, Dick Mitchell, Bill Mosley, Jim Proffitt, Harry Rogers, Dick Rushing, Frank Sadler, Millard Shirley, Lee Truman and Clayton Webb.

The group will have a reception on Friday, June 19, and a dinner on Saturday, June 20. The Bear’s Boys have had reunions every two or three years since 1983.

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