19 Waller White

Waller White was born William Waller White on September 15, 1918, in Tyrone, Kentucky, to Wesley Oliver White and Margaret “Maggie Mae” Waterfill White. His father worked for the Southern Railway, and White grew up with two brothers, Cecil and Thomas, and two sisters. He attended Kavanaugh High School in Lawrenceburg before enrolling at the University of Kentucky.

White joined Kentucky’s basketball program as a freshman in 1938-39, but his varsity career began the following season. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound forward became known by the nickname “Whizzer” and developed into a dependable member of Adolph Rupp’s Wildcats.

As a sophomore in 1939-40, White played in 16 games and scored 45 points. An infected foot, a shoulder injury and influenza repeatedly interrupted his season, but he persevered and contributed to a Kentucky team that won both the SEC regular-season and tournament championships. His defining moment came against Xavier when, with Kentucky trailing by two in overtime, he made a field goal and added a free throw to provide the winning margin in a 42-41 victory.

White enjoyed his most productive season as a junior in 1940-41, scoring 101 points in 24 games. His increased role reflected the toughness and consistency that kept him in Rupp’s rotation as Kentucky finished 17-8 against a demanding schedule.

As a senior in 1941-42, White became a regular starter and scored 90 points while appearing in all 25 games. He opened the season by scoring a game-high 10 points in a 31-25 victory over Miami University and later tied Marvin Akers for Kentucky’s scoring lead in the SEC Tournament with 27 points. White’s steady point production helped the Wildcats finish 19-6, and his play earned him second-team All-SEC recognition from the Associated Press.

White also helped Kentucky reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Wildcats defeated Illinois, 46-44, before falling to Dartmouth in the East Regional final. Another of White’s memorable performances came in the 1940 SEC Tournament championship game, when he scored 11 points in Kentucky’s 51-43 victory over Georgia. He completed his varsity career with 236 points in 65 games.

White earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Kentucky in 1942. During World War II, he served in the European theater with the Army Air Forces. He later spent 29 years in marketing management with Gulf Oil Corporation before retiring in 1974 to River Plantation, Texas. Known in retirement as “Bingo Bill,” he volunteered at a local hospital and played with the Ukulele Band at First Baptist Church in Conroe. White died at Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington, Texas, on February 20, 2007.