H.H. Lovett Introduces Basketball to Marshall County
Written by Justin D. Lamb
Judge H.H. Lovett introduced basketball to Marshall County in the early 20th Century.
(Collection of the author)
With March Madness upon us and everyone filling out their brackets and making their Final Four predictions, let’s take a look at how the game we all love so much was introduced to our area over one hundred years ago.
The first basketball games in Kentucky were played in Louisville at the YMCA in 1895 with Berea College being the first to organize the first official basketball team in the state. A few years down the road in 1904, Marshall County would be introduced to the game by H.H. Lovett, Sr.
Born in 1881 in the Olive community, Henry Hardin Lovett, Sr. enrolled in Southern Normal School and Business College (now Western Kentucky University) in Bowling Green, Kentucky in the autumn of 1902 to pursue a teaching degree. It was during this time that Lovett was first introduced to the game of basketball when he noticed a group of his classmates playing a new game. Intrigued, Lovett was quick to ask questions and learned every aspect of the game.
Lovett later graduated from Southern Normal College in 1904 with a Bachelor’s Degree of Science. By the summer of 1904, Lovett returned home to Marshall County and brought along a basketball with him. In nearby Paducah, basketball had been played in the local Y.M.C.A. as early as 1902, but no such organization had existed in Marshall County and many in the poor, rural county had never been to Paducah much less seen the game of basketball. Lovett set out to change that by introducing the game to as many in his native county as he could.
One of the very few teachers in the area at the time with a Bachelor’s Degree, Lovett began teaching in the local one-room schools in Marshall County where along with the regular curriculum, he taught his pupils the game of basketball as well. Lovett later was hired at Marshall County Seminary School and was named principal in 1906. He was given the task of reorganizing the old seminary school into a graded school which he completed in 1908.
Lovett was eventually named Superintendent of the Benton Public School System in 1908 where he completed the task of creating Benton High School and initiating a new course of study. Lovett’s curriculum became the first in the state to be approved by the Kentucky Department of Education. He later became Superintendent of Chaffee School System in Missouri and Superintendent of Bardwell School System in Carlisle County.
Olive School on October 28, 1926.
Notice the 5 girl basketball team in front row. Pictured in the front left to right: Alma Johnson, Reba Thompson Lovett, and Rita Norwood Mathis. Directly behind them are Edna Brown Jones and Rena Jones Brown.
(Collection of the author)
Basketball caught on throughout the state like wildfire. Despite objections from the women’s physical education director, student interest lead to the first women’s basketball team at the University of Kentucky in 1902. The following year in 1903, the University of Kentucky men’s team played its first ever game against Georgetown College after J. White Guyn, R.H. Arnett, Joe Coons, H.J. Wurtele and Lee Andrus ( a native of Graves County) pooled their money to buy a $3 basketball. They lost that first game and didn’t have a winning season until 1909. Lovett’s alma mater, Western Kentucky University, would organize its first basketball team in the season of 1914-1915. By 1931, Adolph Rupp was named head coach at the University of Kentucky and ushered in a legendary basketball dynasty.
Through the years, Marshall County would witness legendary basketball teams including the 1938 Sharpe Green Devils, 1948 Brewers Redmen, 1959 North Marshall Jets, and 1984 Lady Marshals. It also became the home that produced remarkable players like Jumpin’ Joe Fulks, Joe Holland, Bobby Warren, Joe Dan Gold, and Dan Langhi.
As for H.H. Lovett, he later became a successful attorney and was elected County Judge, Circuit Clerk, Commonwealth Attorney, and Circuit Judge. He also donated the land and advocated construction of Benton City Park which was later named in his honor.
Throughout his career he continued to be a strong supporter of both education and athletics in Marshall County. He was also a devoted follower of the University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball program. Lovett passed away in 1971 at age 88 and was buried in the Benton Cemetery.
From the obvious basketball fever that still consumes the area every season, Lovett’s introduction of basketball to our region has proven to be a resounding success.
Sources:
“Judge Lovett—Marshall Countian.” Marshall Courier. 1970.
“Here Comes De Judge—Judge H.H. Lovett.” Paducah Sun-Democrat. 1970.
H.H. Lovett Oral History. Marshall County Public Library. 1969.