Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers as they mourn the loss of a great man. My family moved in next door to "Mr. T" when I was 2 years old back in the early 80's. I grew up listening to his stories about Coach Rupp, The Celtics, and even heard some funny tales about Bear Bryant, not to mention the incredible life advice he gave me along the way. He was a very generous and giving man, and he will be missed by all who knew him best. Rest in peace, Mr. T.
Kentucky has lost a Legendary UK Wildcat, Lou Tsioropoulos
- Thread starter Cats & Noles
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Great man and a most valuable player for UK. Saw him play many times in the 50's . Who were the other starters beside Hagan and Ramsey? Adrian Smith?
Tsioropoulos played under legendary coach Adolph Rupp. As a sophomore in 1951, he was a member of Kentucky's NCAA Championship team, which defeated Kansas State 68-58. Tsioropoulos' #16 jersey was retired by his alma mater, and he is in the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame.
I attended Gottschalk Junior High in 72, Mr. T was the principal at that time. Early in the year I got in trouble with a couple of other guys and we were sentenced to study hall for an hour after school. For some strange reason the guy running the study hall thought we should sit there and look straight ahead, quietly, for an hour.
On my way to the Principal's office I was scared shitless because Mr. T was a huge dude and had a terrible reputation as a hardass. As I entered his office for the first time, I noticed all the UK memorabilia and immediately let him know of my love for the Cats. I still didn't know who he was until I saw his full name on his desk.
We talked about the Cats and Rupp and his team and I think he was impressed by my knowledge of the previous 10 years of history. He finally asked me why I was there and I had to tell him I had disrupted the study hall. He asked me how many days I had to go and when I told him the rest of the week, he told me to just come to his office everyday if I wanted and he would take care of it with the teacher.
I ran all the way home, so proud to tell my father what had happened and who my principal was. I was there for another year and a half and never got in trouble again. Well, no trouble that sent me to his office.
On my way to the Principal's office I was scared shitless because Mr. T was a huge dude and had a terrible reputation as a hardass. As I entered his office for the first time, I noticed all the UK memorabilia and immediately let him know of my love for the Cats. I still didn't know who he was until I saw his full name on his desk.
We talked about the Cats and Rupp and his team and I think he was impressed by my knowledge of the previous 10 years of history. He finally asked me why I was there and I had to tell him I had disrupted the study hall. He asked me how many days I had to go and when I told him the rest of the week, he told me to just come to his office everyday if I wanted and he would take care of it with the teacher.
I ran all the way home, so proud to tell my father what had happened and who my principal was. I was there for another year and a half and never got in trouble again. Well, no trouble that sent me to his office.
RIP Lou. he played with another good man, shelby linville, whom my daughter had the pleasure of being in his class in when he would sometimes substitute teach at her hs in ohio. she went on to become a uk grad i might add.
I was fortunate to have had him as a teacher while attending Manual. All who knew Coach Tsioropoulos, admired him for his honesty and fairness.
I will assume your daughter went to Middletown? I had Shelby as a substitute teacher at Vail Middle School back in the late 80's/early 90's a few times.
I was able to see Lou, Frank and Cliff and the others play in the SEC title game down in Nashville. I think this was in 1954.
Billy Evans and Phil Grawemeyer. Gayle Rose and Linville Puckett also played a lot for the 1953-54 team.
1953-54 UK Stats
Gayle Rose from Olive Hill, Ky and Billy Evans from Berea were the guards on the 1954 undefeated team. I saw both Rose and Evans play in 1955-56 as members of the Air Force all star team. Linville Puckett from Paris, Ky may have been on that teamas a sub. I think he was kicked off the 1955 team for a violation of team rules. I think Grawmeyer and Jerry Bird and Gerry Calvert may have also been subs on that team. Shelby Linville was on the 1951 NCAA championship team with Spivey, Hagan and Ramsey. Shelby Linville coached my hometown team, Sandy Hook high school in 1958. They were ranked #1 in the state for a while by the Likenhouse ratings for those of you that remember the Dunkel and Litkenhouse ratings.
Sorry to ask but has there been any obituary published about this? I haven't seen anything in the Lexington Herald-Leader or Louisville Courier-Journal or Boston Globe.
You have nothing to apologize for, and honestly I'm not sure if anything has been published yet. I heard that a writer from the courier journal may publish an article, but I have no definite answer as to when or if it will even happen. Apparently Mr T did not want a service or memorial, but I know his wife is considering something so people can pay their respects. I can tell you that there is a service planned for this week, but I believe (at this time) it is only for close friends and family.
We all mourn the loss of another great Wildcat.
One last time for Mr. T. -- Go Big Blue!
Had the great fortune to meet the man. Lou had misplaced his Championship ring after having a few on the golf course, I found it, met him and we had a couple of beers on him. A gentleman for sure, all sympathies to the family, he lived a great life.
Member of Great UK 1954 Undefeated 25-0 team died in Louisville at 84 years old.Known as "The Golden Greek" recruited out of Lynn Massachusetts..Played with Hagan and Ramsey..Rest in Peace Lou.
Linville Puckett coined the phrase " going to war" as he exited UK after Rupp kicked him off team.Cawood used it rarely to describe outstanding play by a Wildcat.
Puckett led the mini revolt and Rupp dismissed him..I learned never talk back to Coach Rupp...not a smart move..Rest in Peace Lou
Great reading through some of the encounters with Mr. T above, makes you appreciate the man even more. I never saw him play but had heard of his name, of course, and some of the accounts above make his life even more personal to the UK family.
My dad talked about how rugged inside Lou played in his day. He particularly recalls the great rivalry with St Louis Univ and listening to Harry Carey whining about the refs letting Tsioropoulos "commit murder down low" even though that game was played at St Louis. It was also the game when the opposing coach's son sat behind UK's bench screaming in Rupp's ear until Asst coach Lancaster's hard slap across his face broke his glasses. After the game during an interview Rupp drily said "UK would pay for a new pair of glasses for the young man."
Actually the Young man Eddie Hickey was the Official Timer and he fired a blank pistol to signal the end of the first Half The Shot burned Harry Lancaster's leg.Harry told the young man "don't do that again!" .The second half was rougher and Tsioropoulos was involved in a scuffle and someone on St.Louis bench called him a Greasy Greek..The end of the game was signaled by another shot by the Timer and Harry's $50 suit was burned.Harry punched the Young Man so hard he knocked him out of his shirt and tie.The Police had to restore order and UK won and left the floor.
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My late dad's early 1950's sources were not the greatest, small Ky city newspapers and what was said on radio. However, one of the fabulous five was a hometown guy and an a UK athletics board member during the scandals was a good friend of dad...good sources during that period.
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