5 Bill Cravens

Bill Cravens was born on October 15, 1925, in Huntington, West Virginia, to Edward E. Cravens and Hyla E. Cravens. He graduated from Huntington High School before enrolling at the University of Kentucky, where he studied in the College of Commerce and played forward for Adolph Rupp’s Wildcats during the 1943–44 season.

Cravens appeared in one varsity game for Kentucky, scoring four points in the Wildcats’ season-opening victory over the Fort Knox Soldiers while making his only field-goal attempt and both free throws. During World War II, he entered the U.S. Army, bringing his collegiate basketball career to an early close. After his military service, he completed his education at Marshall University.

Cravens later worked as a production manager for several technology and manufacturing companies, including Raytheon and GTE. He settled in Canton, Massachusetts, where he also served as a sports writer for the Canton Journal and coached youth football. He died on March 3, 2014, at the age of 88.