Athletics

African American Heritage Trail

Athletics

Sign #8 at 30 Oliver Street

Kentucky’s early thoroughbred races always featured black jockeys. Team sports, however, were strictly segregated. The Poynterville Pirates and Bucktown Bees played baseball on weekends at William “Pie” Didlick’s farm on 7th Street, which they called Sportsman’s Field. Oliver High is remembered for its storied athletics programs.

For more about Oliver High athletics.

E. J. Hooper

In his brief career (1921-23) at Oliver High, Coach Hooper won championships in boys’ basketball and football and girls’ basketball.

For more about E. J. Hooper.

E. J. Hooper’s girls’ basketball champions, 1922

Hubert Page
Oliver became a basketball dynasty during Page’s 23 years as coach (1929-52). During that time he won 70 percent of his games, compiling a 412-174 record. They were state champions in 1934.

Oliver High’s 1934 Championship Team

Joe Gilliam Sr.
Gilliam coached at Oliver from 1952-55 turning in three winning seasons in basketball and a state championship in football in 1954. He went on to coach football at Tennessee State University from 1989 to 1992, earning Ohio Valley Conference Coach Of The Year honors in 1990. He was father of former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Joe Gilliam, and the grandfather of R&B singer Joi. Gilliam was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall Of Fame in 2007.

For more about Joe Gilliam.

Many of Clark County’s black athletes have made lasting marks at the high school, collegiate and professional level.

Robert Arthur Brooks
After starring in football, basketball and baseball at Oliver High, Brooks played his senior year at Winchester High. In this first year of integrated schools, he led the football and basketball teams to their first winning seasons in many years. He made Little All American in football at Ohio University, and went on to play for the New York Titans in the American Football League.

For more about Robert Brooks.

Wilbur Hackett Jr.
Winchester-native Wilbur Hackett was one four athletes who broke the color barrier at the University of Kentucky and the SEC. He was a three-year starter from 1968-70 and in 1969 became the first African-American team captain in the SEC. Inducted into the UK Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009. His statue at Kroger Field in Lexington was unveiled in 2017.

For more about Wilbur Hackett.

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