8 Evan Settle

Obituary – Evan E. Settle Jr., Lexington Herald (June 13, 2006) by Jennifer Hewlett

Evan Settle, a beloved sports figure in Shelby County who led the Shelbyville High School boys’ basketball teams to more than a half-dozen state tournament appearances, died yesterday at Jewish Hospital in Shelbyville.

Mr. Settle, who was 93, also was the oldest living University of Kentucky basketball letterman who played for legendary UK coach Adolph Rupp. Mr. Settle, who had played basketball at Crab Orchard and Owenton high schools lettered at UK in 1933 and 1934. He also lettered in golf and baseball at UK and went on to coach those sports at Shelbyville High.

He turned down an offer from the Cincinnati Reds to play Class D baseball after graduating from UK in 1934, opting instead to coach basketball in Shelby County.

Mr. Settle’s coaching and teaching career was interrupted by a stint in the Army Air Corps.

In addition to coaching, he taught algebra and physics at Shelbyville High during his 28-year career there. He retired in 1973.

“As a teacher, he was full of wit and he had a certain form of sarcasm that would get you to achieve at your highest level,” said Duanne Puckett, community relations coordinator for Shelby County schools and a friend and former student of Mr. Settle.

Mr. Settle coached Shelbyville High School Red Devils boys’ basketball teams to seven regional titles, and the school’s golf and baseball teams to three regional titles each.

“He was really good; He ruled the Eighth Region for years in basketball,” said Mitch Bailey, who coached basketball at rival Shelby County High School while Mr. Settle was at Shelbyville High.

“He was a good basketball coach. He was a good baseball coach. He had a beautiful golf swing,” Bailey said.

A former golf professional at Shelbyville Country Club, Mr. Settle won several senior championships.

Mr. Settle, an Owen County native, was inducted into the Dawahare’s Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame in 2004.

Surviving are high wife, Eloise Maddox Settle; two sons, Evan Evans Settle IV of Santa Fe, N.M. and Jess Maddox Settle of Nashville, Tenn.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Shannon Funeral Home in Shelbyville. Burial will be private. Memorial gifts are suggested to Clear Creek Family Activity Center in Shelbyville or the UK Basketball Museum in Lexington.

SHELBYVILLE – Evan E. Settle Jr., 93, died Monday, June 12, 2006 at the Jewish Hospital in Shelbyville. He was a former player of Adolph Rupp’s first team at University of Kentucky and while at UK lettered in basketball, baseball, football and golf. He was a former golf pro at Shelbyville Country Club. He taught algebra and physics as well as coached basketball, baseball and golf at Shelbyville High School for 28 years retiring in 1973.

He served in the Air Force for five years retiring as major. He was inducted into the KY High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.

He is survived by his wife, Eloise Maddox Settle; sons, Evan Evans (Sue Bradbury) Settle IV, Jess Maddox (Betty Walters) Settle, grandsons, Evan Evans Settle V, Bailey Walters Settle, Jay Arvin Settle, granddaughter, Kathryn Maddox Settle, and great grandchildren, Cade and Maddox Settle.

Visitation will be 3-8 p.m., Wed at the Shannon Funeral Home. There will be a private family burial. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Clear Creek Family Activity Center, 17 Burks Branch Road, Shelbyville, KY; or UK Basketball Museum, P.O. Box 89, Lexington, KY 40588