The Boys from Corbin: America's Greatest Little Sports Town

What do the Los Angeles Lakers, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Knicks, San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders, Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, Furman Paladins and the Eastern Kentucky Colonels all have in common? They have all had star athletes who began their careers as Corbin Redhounds.

For four decades the 30's, 40's, 50's, and 60's, Corbin High School sports were the glue that held the town together. For those who worked on the railroad, cut or hauled timber, or chiseled and drug coal from the nearby mines, football and basketball was a diversion from the daily chore of providing for their families. Sports were the common denominator that transcended economic levels of Corbin's citizenry.

Sports Hall of Fames are dotted with Corbin stars:

Frank Selvy
Rodger Bird
Calvin Bird
Billy Bird
Jerry Bird
Steve Bird
Roy Kidd
Nick Denes
David Selvy
Fred Radar
Mel Chandler
Princess McBurney
Jesse Grant
Marvin Selvy
Bobby Terrell
Curly Selvy
Edd Selvy
Ted Meadors
Jerry Smith
Bob Barton
Tommy Adkins
Bob Coleman
Marion Cluggish
Curt Selvy

There are others who were prep All-Americans, college All-Americans, NBA and NFL all-stars. The Boys from Corbin—America's Greatest Little Sports Town is not just a story . . . it's a phenomenon.