25 Pete Grigsby

Pete Grigsby was born Elhanan Pete Grigsby Jr. on August 25, 1934, in Bypro, Kentucky, to Elhanan Pete Grigsby Sr. and Marena Hayes Grigsby, and grew up in nearby Martin.  A quick, shifty guard with a dependable outside shot, he scored 2,543 points over five seasons at Martin High School, beginning as an eighth grader, and earned first-team All-State honors in 1952.

Grigsby entered Kentucky during the program’s suspended 1952-53 season, when the Wildcats could only practice and stage exhibitions. He appeared in all four intrasquad scrimmages, and the Kentucky Kernel praised one of his finest defensive efforts in the 49-47 finale. The 1953 Kentuckian identified him among the freshmen expected to contend for playing time the following season.

Wearing No. 25, Grigsby became a letterman on Adolph Rupp’s celebrated 1953-54 team. He appeared in three official games, scoring one point and collecting two rebounds while playing behind an experienced group led by Cliff Hagan, Frank Ramsey and Lou Tsioropoulos. Kentucky swept all 25 games, captured the SEC championship and finished ranked No. 1, but declined an NCAA Tournament berth because its graduate stars would have been ineligible. Grigsby also became a three-year collegiate baseball letterman.

Grigsby’s coaching path began before he left Lexington; in 1956 the Kentucky Kernel identified him as coach of the Barons intramural team. After earning his UK degree in physical education in 1957, he compiled a 330-131 record at McDowell High School, won three 15th Region championships and earned Floyd County Coach of the Year honors six times. He later served as a principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent and remained connected to basketball as a high school broadcaster.