The Times-Tribune
CORBIN —
Corbin’s 1952 Regional basketball championship team was one of the Redhound’s greatest teams. It had some remarkable players, was the sixth straight Harry Taylor team to win the 13th Regional title, and was acclaimed across Kentucky for its performances.
This was Jerry Bird’s final year in which he broke Frank Selvy’s season scoring record with 714 points in 32 games, and became Corbin’s fourth player to score over one thousand points in a career as he finished as the career leader for Redhound basketball with 1,318 points. Jerry went on to star for the UK basketball team where he was inducted in the UK Athletic Hall of Fame. His jersey hangs in honor in the rafters of Rupp Arena.
Bird’s two senior teammates, C. D. Vermillion and Darrell Storm, also finished along with him as members of three regional championship teams. The three were also excellent football players. C. D. and Darrell went on to star for Erskine College and gained the name as the “Atomic Basketball Twins from Corbin.”
Corbin’s big victory over a tough Clay County team in the regional finals at Bell County was one of the school’s greatest all-time single game performances. From start to finish, the Redhounds dominated that game that also included great Clay County players Ray Mills of future UK fame, and one of the teams all-time greats, John “Crowe” Fletcher.
Corbin drew Cuba in the opening round of the state tournament. Cuba ended up as the state champion but Corbin played them to the limits before losing a game many remember as one of the all-time most exciting games in state tournament history.
Future great Redhound star and college player Edd Selvy was a freshman member of that team. The late Roy Gilliam who is buried in Arlington Cemetery was a starting forward. Lavon Lewis was an important sophomore starting guard and a few years later a starting outfielder for the UK baseball team. Rondal Hart went on to star at Morehead University in football. Other members included Billy Adkins who was a fine football player for Corbin, Harland Byerly who also played football, Edward McHargue, Ellis Harkleroad, Clifford Eagle who also received a football scholarship to EKU, Archie Gibbs, Silas Peace, Harold Bible and Don Hobbs who were future stars at Corbin, and Michael Clark and Rue Wesley who were equipment managers. Harry Taylor and assistant basketball coach Judge Howard had starred as players for Corbin in the 1920s and later at Union College and coached this team to a memorable season.
We should all remember this special team in our school’s history and I believe very much they should have been inducted in the Redhound Hall of Fame years ago.
Bob Terrell, Corbin
