Howard Beth, retired Marshall County High School Lady Marshals basketball coach, received the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation’s “Ralph Beard Lifetime Achievement Award”. Mr. Basketball Fraternity and the Kentucky Lions Clubs established this award in 2008 following Beard’s death in 2007. It was named for Ralph Beard who was a collegiate basketball player at the University of Kentucky, a professional ball player and an Olympic Gold Medal winner. It is to honor that recognizes a lifetime achievement related to basketball or another walk of life.
Coach Beth spent 30 years coaching the Lady Marshals. His girls’ team made it to the state tournament his first season as a coach. Under his leadership, the Lady Marshals won 11 consecutive regional titles, made three trips to the state finals winning the title in 1982 and 1984, including a 34-0 undefeated season in 1984. Beth is credited with 794 wins – the most for any girl’s coach in Kentucky high school basketball at the time of his retirement in 2010. In 2019, the court at Reed Conder Gymnasium was named “Howard Beth Court”.
“I’m both honored and humbled by the fact of receiving such a prestigious award”, Beth said. “Anytime you receive an award it actually goes to the administration, the teachers, the parents, the students and most of all, the outstanding players that I had the fortune to coach. I want to thank the Lions Eye Foundation for what they do for the kids in Kentucky that might not be able to see and all the things like that.”
Due to COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions, the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation with the assistance of Calvert City Lions Club President Terry Davis, Lions District 43K Representative Cabinet Secretary Lion Vicki Madison and Regional Chairperson Lion David Madison, delivered the award and gift package to Coach Beth on Thursday (June 11) prior to the first ever virtual Mr. and Miss Kentucky Awards Ceremony on Sunday, June 28 at 5 p.m. (EDT). The event will be streamed live on www.prespin.com and will be found on the Mr. and Miss Kentucky Basketball Awards Ceremony Facebook page.
“This is a privilege and he’s well deserving of it”, Calvert City Lions Club President Terry Davis said. “I’m proud to be a graduate with him and be able to present it to him. I think it’s one of the best awards you can receive.”
Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation Executive Director, Lindy Lamkin said, “Although our Awards Ceremony is going to look a bit different this year, the meaning of the moment remains the same.”