Adolph Rupp Portrait

The Baron of Basketball

Adolph F. Rupp
1968

While I was a Sophomore at the University of Kentucky in 1967-68, a friend worked for the Lexington Herald-Leader in the Special Sections Department, and her department prepared a Sunday Insert Section to reconize Coach Rupp upon his 700th victory. For that insert, the Herald-Leader commissioned several Charcoal sketches of Adolph by artist Franklin Stone. She gave me this original print, which I have treasured ever since.

In 1972, my mother-in-law, Mrs. Reva Brehm played in a weekly bridge group with Coach Parson's wife, and Mrs. Parson's agreed to take this print to Coach Rupp for his autograph. Coach Rupp autographed the drawing in 1973. The autograph is located in the lower right corner, just below the outside corner of Adolph's coat. Franklin Stone's Signature on the portraint appears directly beneath the basketball.

I wish I could provide a better image of the portrait

Contributed by Richard Cheeks

Kindred's Five Ornery Charmers: No. 4, Adolph Rupp
JUNE 2, 1999

An Excerpt follows. Click on the Link for the entire article

"I'd just as soon die on the bench," he said. "Retire? Why, what would I do? Time would hang heavy on my hands. It's the competitiveness I like -- taking a bunch of boys and seeing what I can do with them. These young squirts come in as coaches at other places and they say they're going to put an end to Rupp and Kentucky. Well, we'll see about that."

Click Here to Read: 'Defeat and Failure To Me Are Enemies' by Adolph Rupp. Published in Sports Illustrated Magazine, December 8, 1958, pp. 100-106. Submitted by Coach Rupp at the invitation of Sports Illustrated, America's most controversial basketball coach puts down in writing the resolute philsophy that has led to a remarkable record. It is summed up best in his own words.

Click Here For More of the Rupp Interview Audio

Click Here For Happy Chandler on Rupp

Othere Rupp Videos, CLICK HERE

Go Back