Posted by Chris Megginson - Tue, Apr 6, 2010 - [Men's Basketball]
George Sadler
Former Campbellsville University men's basketball head
coach George Sadler passed away Monday, April 5, 2010 in Louisville. He was 91.
Sadler was the first head coach for Tiger basketball at then Campbellsville
College when the school first joined the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic
Conference (KIAC) and competed in the NAIA in 1964-65.
During his two year tenure, he recorded the Tigers' first NAIA basketball
victory with a win over Cumberland College, now University of the Cumberlands,
88-70. He also recruited the first African-American men's basketball player
prior to the 1964-65 season, Robert "Bob" Murphy.
Another one of his first recruits was Campbellsville Athletic Hall of Fame
member Ronnie Hord, who says if it wasn't for Sadler, he would not be in
Campbellsville today.
"If I've had any success, I'd have to give him credit for it. I am in
Campbellsville because of him," said Hord, who has owned H&W Sports Shop in
Campbellsville since 1969. "He was a great Christian man. I had all the admiration for him
in the world … He and his wife were great
inspirations to a lot of people at Campbellsville when they were there."
In addition to coaching basketball, Sadler was an
assistant professor for health and physical education. He also served as head
baseball coach and head tennis coach for the Tigers.
Salder went on to coach tennis and teach at Morehead State University, where
the school's 12-court facility is now named in his honor.
Prior to coming to Campbellsville, Sadler taught at and coached at Munfordville and Hiseville High Schools. He played football at Western Kentucky
University in 1940 before serving in World War II.
Upon his retirement from coaching and teaching, he served as a foreign
missionary for the Southern Baptist IMB.
He was preceded in death by his son, George Ronald
Sadler.
He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Laura
Elizabeth; children, Dr. Nancy Sue Corbett, Laura Jean Sadler-Harperink
(George), John Cad Sadler (Teresa), Sally Anne Tisdale (Eric); 11
grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral ceremony will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 8, 2010
at Westport Road Baptist Church, 9705 Westport Road, Louisville, with entombment in Louisville
Memorial Gardens East. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 7,
2010 at Newcomer Funeral Home, 235 Juneau Drive, Middletown.
