Bobby and Don McGuire

Bobby McGuire (‘51) was born in Hazard, Kentucky, February 12,1929 to the late Asher and Pearl McGuire. Bobby graduated from Hazard High School in 1947 where he lettered in four sports. He was a first team All-State basketball player, was a pitcher, and won every baseball game in which he played at HHS. He was asked by Paul “Bear” Bryant to tryout for the University of Kentucky football team, but chose to attend Vanderbilt University on a basketball scholarship. Bobby transferred to Western Kentucky University in the fall of 1948 where he played basketball for the legendary coach, Ed Diddle. He was later drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization as a pitcher. After graduating from Western and receiving his masters degree from the University of Kentucky, he entered the US Army. He was Captain of a MASH Unit in Virginia and later in Germany. He married Charlotte Watson, his high school sweetheart, in 1952. He later coached basketball and baseball at Erlanger High School and Atherson High School. In the late 1950’s he joined Holt, Rinehart and Winston Publishing Company and moved to Decatur, Georgia in 1962. He became Vice President for Sales and was inducted into the company’s Hall of Fame in 1983. Bobby served as National Alumni President for Western Kentucky University in 1968 and 1969. He was inducted into the Dawahare Athletic Hall of Fame in Kentucky in 1996. He passed away on December 15, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Don McGuire (’54), brother to Bobby McGuire, was also born in Hazard, Kentucky, to the late Asher and Pearl McGuire. A graduate of Hazard High School, he was also a graduate of Western KY University where he played basketball for the famed Coach Ed Diddle. He served his country with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Don was the last surviving member of the singing group The Hilltoppers, who in 1952 was the #1 group in the United States with multiple top 10 hits including “P.S. I Love You” and “Trying” ……touring the US and World in the early and mid 1950’s. The Hilltoppers and Don were inducted into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Don published a book in 2017 called “From Big Bottom to Broadway” that told the story of his amazing life from his humble beginnings in Hazard KY to the bright lights and fame of show business. He was well known throughout the state of KY after his career with The Hilltoppers, he retired from Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishing Company. Don was affectionately known as “Papa Don” to all who loved him. He passed away Fri, Sept. 7, 2018 after a short illness.

Through this scholarship created by his friends and family, both Bobby’s and Don’s memories will live on in perpetuity.