32 Allen Feldhaus

From the University of Kentucky Basketball Media Guide for 1962:

“As the biggest man on the 1961-62 Kentucky varsity squad, Allen Feldhaus will have a big load on his shoulders in attempting to carry the Wildcat colors in the rugged going under the basket. Absence of the really big man (in the sense of height in the 6-9 or above range) in the pivot will increase the pressure on this rugged native Kentuckian, but he has lived up to his moniker of “Horse” exceptionally well to date. The full worth of Feldhaus to last season’s Kentucky team is difficult to assess accurately on the basis of mere recital of his point production—which amounted to only 91 points. Horse helped carry the Wildcats during the troubled first half of the season by starting at forward in 11 of the first 15 games and his final accumulation of 114 rebounds was the fifth highest on the team. All told, the Burlington “fireman” saw better than 400 minutes of action in 26 games and quenched the flames of many a foe’s hot streak. His season high in point making was a 10-point effort against Notre Dame at Louisville that tied his varsity best mark set as a sophomore against Colorado State. Alternating between forward and center as a sophomore, Feldhaus had posted 185 minutes of action time and 44 points to earn his first varsity letter. Returns this season with the distinction of being one of only four lettermen veterans. Like last year, Allen has been in top form in pre-season practice and is ticketed to hold down one of the starting forward jobs when the Wildcats open the 1961-62 campaign. His biggest value will be in rebounding, but it’s likely he also will show an improvement in his eye for the basket. He took only 103 shots in 26 games last year. Shows surprising speed for a big man and should be no handicap in the fast break offense. In the off-season, Allen stars in baseball as a catcher and undoubtedly will be highly sought by pro scouts after following up a sensational soph campaign with leading slugger honors last spring. He was a second team All-State pick in basketball and scored 624 points in his senior schoolboy year. Also participated in football and track. Enrolled in College of Education.”

ALLEN FELDHAUS SR.’S WONDERFUL BASKETBALL LIFE – by Mike Fields, Nov. 2, 2017

Allen Feldhaus Sr., who died Saturday at age 77, had a wonderful basketball life.

The Boone County native played for Adolph Rupp at Kentucky.

He coached the high school game at Russell County and Mason County, and guided the Royals to four 10th Region titles, and a Sweet Sixteen runner-up in 1981.

He coached his three sons – Allen Jr., Willie and Deron –  and all three got to play for Mason County in the state tournament under the bright lights in Rupp Arena.

Allen Jr. and Willie followed in their dad’s footsteps into coaching.

In his 20th season at Madison Central, Allen Jr. led the Indians to the state championship in 2013. (Allen Sr. and Allen Jr. are the only father and son to serve as head coach in the KHSAA state finals.)

Willie first coached at Pendleton County before assisting his brother at Madison Central for 11 years. From there he returned to his roots and led the Russell County program that his dad once headed. Willie now coaches at Louisville Male, a school with one of the richest traditions in Kentucky.

Among them, the Feldhaus trio has coached 1,341 victories, which has to be a state record for one family. (512 for Allen Sr.; 588 for Allen Jr.; 241 for Willie.)

Deron, like his dad, played at UK and was part of the Unforgettables, those 1991-92 Cats who lost that epic NCAA Tournament game to Duke.

(And Let’s not forget that Ashton Feldhaus, Allen Jr.’s daughter, also made her granddad proud with her hoops accomplishments. An all-state player at Madison Central, she helped her team to the Sweet Sixteen.) 

Family, friends, former teammates, former players and others gathered at Kenton Station golf course in Maysville on Tuesday to celebrate the life of Allen Feldhaus Sr.

Among those who attended were some of his teammates at UK in the late 1950s and early ’60s: Dickie Parsons, Larry Pursiful, Al Robinson, Carroll Burchett and George Critz.

“I was shocked to see them all there,” Allen Jr. said. “I guess when you play for Coach Rupp, and all the hell you go through, you stick together.”

Guy Strong, who coached at 10th Region rival Clark County, also came to pay his respects.

“I choked up when I saw Coach Strong there,” Allen Jr. said. “I told him, ‘You and dad were cut out of the same cloth.’”

Feldhaus and Strong were old-school coaches. Big, tough, discipline-minded and intimidating.

“But that’s not really what dad was like,” Allen Jr. said. “He loved for everybody to have a good time.”

And he found the perfect retirement job for that – owning and running Kenton Station with Deron.

“That golf course was perfect for dad,” Allen Jr. said. “A lot of people got to see the other side of him.”

Five granddaughters and a grandson adored the man they called “papaw.” He adored them back.

“That was so special to see,” Allen Jr. said.

Also special was that night in Rupp Arena in 2013 when Madison Central put together a breathtaking rally and overtook Ballard for the Sweet Sixteen title. The entire Feldhaus clan was there to revel in the moment.

“That kind of put the icing on the cake,” Allen Jr. said. “When your whole family strives their entire life to achieve something . . . it was definitely a family affair. I know nobody was happier about it than dad. I know I was happy for him.”

Allen Sr. battled cancer the last nine years, but he tried his best not to let his sons know the seriousness of his condition.

“How in the word he made it as long as he did, I’ll never know,” Allen Jr. said. “He didn’t want us to know how much he was suffering. He didn’t want us to worry about him or feel sorry for him.”

A couple weekends ago, Allen Jr. and Willie (along with their wives) visited their dad in the hospital. As they were leaving, he told them to call Deron and “set up a team meeting.”

So the next weekend, when Allen Sr. was back home, his three sons went to visit.

“We had a great ‘team meeting,’” Allen Jr. said. “He got to tell us exactly what he felt, and how proud of us he was. I think we pretty much knew then he was ready. He was at peace after he got to share those things with us.”

Allen Feldhaus Sr. lived a wonderful basketball life, and he shared it to the fullest with his family.

Obituary – Legacy.com

Allen Feldhaus, 77, of Maysville, KY, passed away Saturday, October 28, 2017. He was born July 15, 1940, in Burlington, KY, the son of the late Bill and Lib Feldhaus. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Lee Anne Feldhaus; sons, Allen Feldhaus (Karen) of Richmond, KY, Willie Feldhaus (Katie) of Mount Washington, KY, and Deron Feldhaus of Maysville, KY, and six grandchildren: Allie, Ashton, Addison, Claire, Lillie and Jake Feldhaus. Also surviving are his mother and father-in-law, Bill and Marlene Coursey of Fredonia, KY, and brother-in-law, Bear Coursey (Julie) of Madisonville, KY; and several nieces and nephews.

Allen was a graduate of Boone Co. HS where he lettered in basketball, football, and baseball. After graduation, he attended University of Kentucky, where he lettered in basketball and baseball for three years, then went on to play professional baseball with the Washington Senators for 3 years.

Allen began his basketball coaching career at Russell County, Russell Springs, KY, then moved to Mason County in Maysville, KY. Where he put the Royals on the basketball map, winning 9 District titles, 4 Regional championships, and a 1981 State Runner-up trophy in the Sweet 16. The following year his squad was undefeated during the regular season. He had 9 consecutive 20-win seasons, 3 seasons of 30 or more victories, and coached 4 teams to the State Tournament. He retired in 1991 as the winningest coach at Mason County with 325-136 record, and finished his career with an overall record of 512-210, while teaching, serving as baseball coach, and Athletic Director.

Included in his many awards and recognitions for basketball coach are induction into the Dawahare’s KHSAA Hall of Fame in 1995, Courier Journal Hall of Fame, Boone Co. Hall of Fame, Mason County Hall of Fame, Kentucky 10th Region Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame, Kentucky Coach of the Year 1981-82, 1985-86, 1986-87, 10th Region Coach of the Year 1985-86, Burley Belt Conference Coach of the Year 1986-87, and Kentucky State Softball Hall of Fame.

For the past 29 years he has been owner/operator of Kenton Station Golf Course with his wife, Lee Anne, and son, Deron. Allen was a member of East Bend Baptist Church, Burlington, and the Loyal Order of the Moose, Maysville, KY. His hobbies include golf, horseracing, basketball, and watching grandchildren play basketball, volleyball, track, football, golf, and cheerleading.

Funeral will be 1 pm on Tuesday, October 31 at Moore & Parker Funeral Home in Maysville. Visitation will be 4-9pm Monday, October 30, 2017, at the Moore & Parker Funeral Home, Maysville, KY.

Obituary – Legendary Mason County coach Allen Feldhaus Sr., who played for Rupp at UK, has died, Lexington Herald-Leader (October 28, 2017) by Cheryl Truman

If Kentucky ever gave a “Mr. Basketball” designation to a senior citizen, it could have gone to Allen Feldhaus Sr.

Feldhaus, 77, died early Oct. 28 in hospice near Kenton Station, the golf course he owned in Maysville. His son, Allen Feldhaus Jr., the boys’ basketball coach at Madison Central High School in Richmond, said his father had battled cancer for nine years.

Feldhaus ran the golf course with his son Deron Feldhaus, who was one of the four “Unforgettables” on the 1991-92 University of Kentucky men’s basketball team, which also included Richie Farmer, John Pelphrey and Sean Woods. That team played the regional final against Duke that is considered one of the greatest college games ever played and ended with Christian Laettner’s last-second game-winning shot at the buzzer.

Feldhaus Sr. played basketball for Adolph Rupp from 1958-62, according to Allen Feldhaus Jr. He was a forward in basketball, a catcher in UK baseball. After graduation he played for the Washington Senators minor league baseball team.

Returning to Kentucky, Feldhaus coached at high schools for 27 years, first at Russell County, then at Mason County through most of the ’80s.

Allen Feldhaus Jr. said his father excelled at motivating his teams: “He was very old-school, and I’m sure playing for Rupp had a lot to do with that. … I don’t think I’ve ever seen a coach who could get more out of less talent than he did. You don’t find many coaches like Dad any more.”

His third son, Willie, coaches boys’ basketball at Louisville Male High School.

In addition to his sons, Feldhaus is survived by his wife, Leanne, five granddaughters and one grandson.

Visitation is Monday from 4 to 9 p.m. at Moore & Parker Funeral Home in Maysville. The funeral is at 1 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a celebration of life at Kenton Station golf course.

After battling cancer for nine years, Feldhaus Jr. said, his father had come to terms with his impending death: “He was at peace when he passed.”