Kenneth Conner, who wrestled as 'Chuck,' was one of many outstanding athletes to come out of Seventy Six

Kenneth Conner

Kenneth Conner, known to many as "Chuck," the name he used for years as a wrestling star, was one of many outstanding athletes to come out of Seventy Six. Wayne Ryan and Sherman York are others who quickly come to mind. The Seventy Six/Fairland community, for some reason, placed more emphasis on sports -- all sports -- and produced more athletes than any other community in Clinton County. Kenneth may have been the best athlete ever to walk the halls of Clinton County High School. He was a legend.

Ken Conner was the son of Ewell and Rosa Conner. Rosa operated stores for many years in Fairland and later at Aaron. She lived to within five months of her 100th birthday. Through her stores, she fed her large family and many others in the community, and she apparently fed them well, particularly her sons: Keith, Kenneth, A.V., and Junior, still known to many as "Bear."

Kenneth was the most athletic of the bunch and certainly the most incorrigible. It is said that when he left Fairland and came to high school to begin his freshman year, he stayed one day and then went home and cut wood all year. When he returned the following year, he had developed the strong, athletic physique seen in old high school annuals.

As a sophomore, Kenneth was a key member of the only Clinton County High School basketball team to reach the State Tournament in 1960. Teammates included Bill Perdue, Jack Latham, Wilkie Skipworth, and other notable players, nearly all of whom are now gone.

The 1961 team missed the presence of Skipworth, Latham, and Perdue, but younger players such as Jack Sewell and Sherman York were emerging, and Coach Lindie Castle fielded his finest team in 1962. The Bulldogs spent much of that season ranked among the Top Ten teams in Kentucky. That remarkable season ended in disappointment when Clinton County fell to Coach Jimmy Bazzell's Allen County Patriots after squandering a late lead. The turning point came when Kenneth fouled out on a controversial call late in the game. As the Park City Daily News reported the following day, people in Clinton County were still wondering what happened. Those few still living who witnessed the game more than six decades ago are still wondering as well.

Kenneth was named All-State that year and turned down a scholarship offer from legendary coach Ed Diddle at Western Kentucky to accept an offer from Middle Tennessee, then a member of the Ohio Valley Conference. As a freshman, he averaged more than 14 points per game. He later joked that his average would have been much higher except for games in which the coach only played him a few minutes.

Kenneth left school after his freshman season. According to local legend, it reportedly had something to do with class attendance. He later attended Lindsey Wilson College and Campbellsville College, staying long enough to make many friends at both institutions.

One of the students he met at Lindsey Wilson was a young man from Liberty whose parents operated a store there. His name was Wallace Wilkinson. Wilkinson later became a successful businessman and, in 1986, announced his candidacy for Governor of Kentucky, Many doubted his chances, but having Chuck Conner campaigning on your behalf was a powerful asset.

After Wilkinson's election in 1987, Kenneth worked on the state payroll for a short time before returning home. Again, according to the stories, it apparently had something to do with attendance.

Kenneth learned the oil business from his father, J.B. Burchett, and Jr. Brown while working on cable-tool drilling rigs. He later used that experience to become involved in oil drilling and promotion during the early 1980s.

Chuck Connors

Kenneth began wrestling in the 1960s under the name "Ken O'Connor." The persona eventually evolved into "Chuck," inspired by actor Chuck Connors of The Rifleman, who bore a resemblance to Kenneth. His longtime tag-team partner was Dale Mann, who grew up near Kenneth and returned to Seventy Six from Indiana in the early 1970s.

Together, the pair traveled throughout Kentucky and Tennessee as wrestling partners. Chuck continued wrestling for years and remained active even after being declared disabled. For a time, he was still appearing on Sunday nights in Georgetown, Ky. He needed the crowd.

Kenneth Conner was an imperfect man, as all of us are. Yet he may have been one of the most generous men ever to call Clinton County home. He was never likely to keep much for himself because he was always willing to give it away. The number of times he provided money, food, assistance, or even a place to stay may never be known. He lived that way because he believed helping others was the right thing to do-and because he genuinely enjoyed seeing people get the help.

Kenneth "Chuck" Conner was larger than life. He was a gifted athlete, a wrestling star, a promoter, an entertainer, a friend to many, and a hero to some. Above all else, he loved to play to the crowd. Whether it was on a basketball court, a ball diamond, a wrestling ring, or perhaps in some non-sporting venue such as a church or court room, he always did better if he had an audience.