Rick DuBose retired from the Western Kentucky University payroll in December but he never will retire his love for WKU.
I can scarcely remember a time when Western Kentucky University and the Hilltoppers weren’t a part of my life in some way. We moved to Bowling Green when I was about six years old, and it all began then. I am an only child of depression-era parents who didn’t go to any college, so it was a natural for me to become an instant Hilltopper.
I grew up watching Ed Diddle wave his famous red towel and Nick Denes and Jimmy Feix pace the sidelines. There was only one school I followed, and that never changed. There was never any blue in our household, and I hardly knew that school to the East existed, rare in the Commonwealth.
There was never any question about college or where I would go. Outside of a wonderful marriage and amazing kids and grandkids, I pretty much owe all of the great things in my life to that school on “The Hill.” I got an outstanding education and met lifelong friends.
I was there in what can arguably be called WKU’s heyday of athletics, that is, until now. The Hilltoppers were a fixture in the Division II football playoffs, and students and fans packed Diddle Arena for every game to see the likes of Jim McDaniels, Clarence Glover, Clem Haskins and the Smith brothers dominate their opponents. By the way, Diddle would seat 14,000 back in those days. It left quite an impression on us.
Following college while managing WLBJ AM-FM, I had the pleasure to teach a few adjunct courses in both broadcasting and advertising. During that time, one of the best things to happen to me involving WKU was when Don Armstrong, then the director of public information, asked me to succeed Jack Faries as the University’s public address announcer for football and men’s basketball. On the basketball side, it began with Gene Keady’s first season on the bench and ended after Matt Kilcullen’s initial season with the Toppers. Most of that time, the football Toppers were led by the legendary Jimmy Feix, not only one of the most successful coaches in WKU history, but one of the classiest individuals you could ever meet.
I took one season off to do play-by-play for the cable company with Ted Hornback initially doing color. A few games in, we were joined by Jim Richards on the broadcasts. Needless to say, I didn’t need to say much! I also had the pleasure to sit next to Coach John Oldham at the scorer’s table when he was AD. Coach O, who took us to our only Final Four (I was there in the Astrodome!), is a gentleman in every way. Many give him credit for breaking the color barrier in college basketball in the South.
I was also privileged to get to work with such WKU legends as SID extraordinaire Paul Just, who learned from another legend, Ed Given, and I spent many eventful games alongside long-time official scorer and great guy Joe Uveges, and scoreboard operator Ed Hanes, another classy man.
My career as the PA announcer ended when I began a 19-year career in the WKU Development and Alumni Relations Office. I owe that good fortune to my friend the late Fred Hensley for having the confidence in me that I could help launch WKU’s first major development operation under his guidance. In my opinion, that period is undoubtedly the most dynamic in WKU history. Under the leadership of visionary President Dr. Gary A. Ransdell, amazing things have been accomplished that most would’ve said couldn’t be done. What an honor and a pleasure it was to be a part of his team.
I finished my career at WKU this past December as the vice president for Alumni Relations and executive director of the WKU Alumni Association. I couldn’t have planned it any better. I followed some legendary Westerners in that role, with the most amazing of them of all being living-legend Lee Robertson. I had the pleasure of working with Lee (Mr. Western) the entire 19 years I was on The Hill. They don’t come any better, and at 94, he’s still going strong. He’s the only person I know who has a bronze sculpture to honor his accomplishments. I’m not worthy!
Those are just the highlights of my long and rich association with WKU. There is so much more I could say about being a “Hilltopper for life,” but I’ll spare you that. I wouldn’t trade a minute of the experience for anything.
One may leave The Hill, but The Hill never leaves you. Like everyone else’s, my blood runs red, but it is “WKU Red.” Go Big Red!