13 James Robertson

James Robertson was born James Sanford Robertson in Henry County, Kentucky on March 7, 1922 to Virgina and James Grover Robertson.  He played as a guard for the University of Kentucky in the early 1940s.  Robertson was part of the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball team during the 1940-41 season.

Robertson attended grade school at Franklinton and Pleasureville. He spent his freshman and sophomore years of high school at New Castle before transferring to Eminence High School for his junior and senior years. In 1939, during his senior year, Robertson became an All-State performer. Known as “Robby,” he led his team to victory in the state tournament against the formidable St. Xavier. Although they were defeated in the quarterfinals by Corbin, a less-feared team, Robertson’s performance was remarkable. He scored a total of 267 points during his senior season. Additionally, he played football during his two years at Eminence, serving as the captain of both the basketball and football teams.

He began his college career at Kentucky in the fall of 1939.  His time at Kentucky coincided with the tenure of the legendary coach Adolph Rupp, who transformed the Wildcats into a formidable force in college basketball. Although Jess Robertson’s individual statistics from his college career are sparse, with records showing he played in only two games during the 1940-41 season, his involvement in the team during this era is noteworthy.

Robertson’s contribution to the team, although limited in terms of game appearances, was part of a larger narrative of Kentucky’s basketball history during a transformative period. His role as a guard would have involved both defensive responsibilities and facilitating the team’s offense, contributing to the overall dynamics of the team.

On May 27, 1946, Robertson married Nancy Lee Reeves.

He was a native of Henry County and a sales manager for Hy-line Indian River.

Robertson passed away on May 11, 1982 at the age of 60.