McKenzie, Tenn.–Bethel University and the Bethel Athletic Department are mourning the loss of Hall-of-Fame member and former basketball standout Kenneth Booher. An Ohio native, Booher was inducted into the Bethel Athletics Hall-of-Fame in 2005.
The 1972 graduate was a member and starter on the 1970-71 men’s basketball team. The team remains to this day one of the more popular teams in Bethel history. The Wildcats, ranked 14th in the nation, defeated No. 10 Georgetown in the NAIA District 24 tournament in the first year of Baker Fieldhouse. The Wildcats met No. 1 Kentucky State in the district title game. Kentucky State won the game and went on to win the NAIA National Championship. Bethel finished 25-5 on the year. Four players averaged in double figures.
The starters for the Wildcats were, James Penn, Joe L. Reaves, Kenny Booher, Don Eichorst and David Cosby. Don Stanford and J.C. Popplewell were valuable members of the squad appearing in almost every game. Other key members of the team were, Tom Cunningham, Tom Copple, Dudley Crowder, Frank Navarro and Ruben Owen.
The team was coached by Hall-of-Fame Coach Doug Hines.
The team was third in the NAIA in rebounding. They were eighth in the nation in margin of victory at 20.9 points per game. They were 17th in team defense. Reaves and Penn were named all-district.
Booher lived in Beaver Creek, Ohio and just turned 77 in August. He was a teacher in the Dayton Public School system and is survived by his wife Eileen who is a 1972 graduate of Bethel.
The entire university send condolences and prayers for Eileen and the family. Please keep all in your thoughts and prayers.