2022- Ken Montgomery – basketball

John Danks Eulogy for Longhorn basketball player Ken Montgomery.

 I met Ken in NYC in March 1978 the day before Texas defeated NC State for the NIT championship. You see he played for THEM. The introduction was made by my roommate Jim Krivacs who was Ken’s best friend from Indianapolis. After that season, Ken transferred to UT where he became an important member of three other UT squads, and my best friend.

Today I’m giving a eulogy in his hometown as we say goodbye to the best friend I ever had.

Back to NYC, Things didn’t start well for Ken and me. We were having breakfast w Krivacs, and Ken started telling Kentucky jokes. Krivacs had mentioned that I was from Kentucky. After a few jokes, I asked him if he’d ever had his ass whipped. He said “take it easy, my parents are from Kentucky”. I said “where”? He said “Chandlers Chapel in Logan County”. I said, “I was born in Russellville in Logan County and my parents in Lewisburg in Logan County”!

Krivacs had staged the whole thing and had a good laugh at my expense.

Since college, “Monty” and I have spoken every week for 30 years, sometimes 4 or 5 times per week depending on world events. He called me Hook, I guess because I was easily reeled by practical jokes.

I’ll miss Monty. He was closer than a brother and he loved the Lord! In fact, I know few people that knew the Bible as well as he did.

Rest In Peace you Redneck. I love you.

Hook em,

John Danks