23 Harry Denham

Obituary – PROMINENT MAYSVILLE SURGEON DENHAM DIES, Lexington Herald-Leader (August 27, 2001) by Leanna Mcguire

A prominent Maysville surgeon, Dr. Harry C. Denham, co-founder of the Denham Medical Clinic in Maysville and a former University of Kentucky basketball player, died Saturday. He was 83.

Dr. Denham, born June 17, 1918, was one of six children of Henry and Mary Denham of Lewis County. A star football and basketball player at Maysville High School, he graduated in 1936 and went on to letter in these and other sports at UK, playing basketball under the legendary Adolph Rupp. Later, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Dr. Denham received a bachelor’s degree in 1941 from UK and graduated in 1944 from the University of Louisville Medical School. During the restructuring of Europe at the end of World War II, he served two years with the U.S. Army Medical Corps in Vienna, Austria, before returning to Maysville in 1950.

He and his brother, Dr. Mitchel B. Denham, a former Kentucky legislator, were leaders in the drive to build the Lewis County and Mason County health departments, and in 1956, the brothers and Dr. George Estill started the Denham Medical Clinic.

Dr. Denham, a general practitioner, obstetrician and surgeon, also served several terms as the Hayswood Hospital Chief of Staff.

He was a member of the Kentucky Surgical Society and was chairman of the Mason County Medical Society.

In 1970, he was named a distinguished alumnus of Maysville High School. He also was a president of the UK Alumni Association and served a total of 10 years on the UK board of trustees.

Dr. Denham, who retired in 1984, sat on the Maysville school board for 21 years. He also served terms as president of the Maysville Country Club and the Lion’s Club, and as board chairman at Trinity United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Minkie Clark Denham; one son, John R. Denham of Maysville; one daughter, Cindy Gardner of Lexington; and six grandchildren.

The funeral will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Maysville. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at the church. Arrangements are by Knox and Brothers Funeral Home.

Contributions are suggested to the United Methodist Home for Children and Youth, Versailles; Trinity United Methodist Church Endowment Fund; Trinity United Methodist Church Volunteers in Mission Fund; or Maysville Community College Scholarship Fund.