Cecil Combs

Legal Name:  Cecil Wilbur Combs
Nickname: Cecil “Pisgah” Combs
Date of Death: August 10, 1974

A native of Berea, Ky., Combs was a graduate of the University of Kentucky (1930) where he was an All-Southeastern Conference basketball player and a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.  He also played tennis during his freshman and sophomore years at UK.  Member of the Keys, an honorary sophomore fraternity.

In March of 1929, the Kentucky Kernel described him as “the Adonnis of the courts, one of the most perfectly formed players in the game.”  The same article went on to say “fighting like a true warrior, playing as if inspired in his last two starts, Pisgah, the best crip shot expert ever seen on this court…”  And coming out of Lexington High School, “Combs was a running guard, one of the best in prep school net history.”

He scored a career high 21 points against South Carolina in the Southern Conference Tournament held in Atlanta, Georgia on February 24, 1928.  The Atlanta Constitution said Combs was easily the star of the game and added:  “In the game against South Carolina it was a case of too much “Pisgah” Combs and Irvine Jeffries.  These Sophomores had their “lamps peeled” and fed the leather by their mates, kept the hoops ringing with their goals. Kentucky worked the ball in for many crip shots and Combs led with eight, with Jeffries getting five. Jeff made three free throws and Combs five.  These speedy forwards being repeatedly fouled as they drove into the basket for shots.”

In December of 1930, he became the coach for the Paris Junior High School basketball team. 

Also in December of 1930, he, along with Hayes Owens, Stanley Milward, Lawrence McGinnis and Paul McBrayer, organized an independent basketball team that would workout with the University of Kentucky squad and offer the Wildcat’s some first-class opposition before they undertake their regular schedule. The former college stars had made tentative arrangements for a southern trip during the Christmas holidays to play the Atlanta Athletic Club and a strong semi-pro club in Nashville, Tennessee.

He went to Nashville in February 1949 with Third National Bank and became senior vice president of the finance department.  He went on to retire as an officer of Third National Bank.

He died August 10, 1974, at the age of 66.  He is buried in the Woodlawn Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Nashville, Tennessee.

Career High Points: 21 – South Carolina – 2/24/1928

1929-30 Senior Season

1928-29 Junior Season

1927-28 Sophomore Season