Arville Hickerson

Arville Ramage Hickerson was born on November 23, 1906, in Owensboro, Kentucky, to Arville Leslie Hickerson and Daisy Evelyn Ramage Hickerson. He attended Owensboro High School before enrolling at the University of Kentucky, where he studied in the College of Engineering. During his freshman year, Hickerson pledged Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played center on Coach John Eklund’s undefeated freshman basketball team. The yearlings captured both the Kentucky and Southern freshman championships, and the Kentuckian yearbook singled out Hickerson’s “superb crip shooting” as one of the team’s greatest strengths.

Standing 6-foot-2, Hickerson later joined Adolph Rupp’s varsity basketball program during the early years of Kentucky’s rise to national prominence. Although relatively little has been documented about his varsity playing career, his success on one of the University’s finest freshman teams and his contributions to the Wildcats placed him among the talented young players who helped build the foundation of Kentucky basketball during Rupp’s formative seasons.

Following his time at Kentucky, Hickerson served in the U.S. Army during World War II before beginning a long career with Louisville Gas & Electric Company. He retired as manager of the company’s purchasing and stores department and was an active member of Strathmoor Presbyterian Church in Louisville.

Hickerson died on September 26, 1985, at the age of 78. He was survived by his wife, the former Maxine Baker, a son, William S. Hickerson, a daughter, Gail LeMay, and two grandchildren. Remembered as an accomplished student-athlete, military veteran, and business leader, Arville Hickerson’s life reflected the character and dedication of Kentucky’s early Wildcats both on and off the basketball court.