LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WYMT) – The Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame inducted its newest member on Monday: The Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024 has ties to Eastern Kentucky through Hazard native Oscar Combs.
“It’s been a dream of mine for years,” Combs said, “and I never thought it would come true. I never thought it would happen at Freedom Hall.”
In 1976, Combs launched The Cats’ Pause, the first independent publication dedicated solely to covering a single college athletics program. Combs began his writing career at the Courier-Journal.
Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame
“As a high school sophomore, junior and senior in Hazard, Kentucky, having a byline in the Courier Journal was the highest honor I could have ever received, at least that’s what I thought it was. This is an even bigger honor than that,” Combs said about being selected for KSHOF.
The Hazard native was inducted into the Hall of Fame along with his close friend, Louisville native Roy Pickerill.
“I never dreamed I’d be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and now I’m inducted with some of my best friends,” Combs said, “and I’m inducted (in) Freedom Hall. Freedom Hall has an iconic atmosphere that Rupp Arena doesn’t have.”
Pickerill, a longtime friend of his for more than 40 years, calls Combs, fellow Hall of Famers Tony Delk and Teddy Bridgewater “a trio of legends.”
“They were legends long before anything else,” Pickerill said. “I’m so proud to be associated with them, especially Oscar. We’ve been together for over 40 years, and I know what he did when he started Cat’s Paws.”
Combs joins longtime friends in being inducted into the Hall of Fame along with University of Kentucky basketball All-American Tony Delk.
“When you get there Tony Delk, come home with me,” Combs said.
Delk said he is honored to be inducted with such greats, but that it is even more special to be inducted with Combs.
“The Cat’s Paws was something that my brothers carried on, especially before I got to Kentucky and after,” Delk said. “He was a pioneer in paving the way for recruiting to let the public know how great our players were.”
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