As a high school senior, Perry Wallace was driven up to Louisville, Ky., by a Cardinals booster living in Nashville to watch U of L’s star players Butch Beard and Wes Unseld. I describe the scene in the book, and Perry shared this photo of his encounter with Beard and Unseld. Just yesterday, I learned more about this story from the daughter of the Louisville booster. Turns out her father was Deward “Dee” Compton, 1948 Louisville team captain (and the school’s first-ever NBA draft pick), and in addition to taking Wallace to Louisville, he also brought Beard and Unseld to Nashville to watch Wallace play for Pearl High. Here’s what Susan Compton Holland remembers about that 1966 visit:
“I remember going with Daddy, John Dromo (Louisville assistant who became head coach the following year),Wes Unseld, and Butch Beard to watch Perry Wallace play ball at Pearl. Louisville was trying to recruit him at the time. All those guys stayed at our house while they were in town, and I remember Mama and Daddy wanted to take them out to supper, but they had a time trying to find a restaurant that would serve “colored people.” And, I think Wes was the first man I ever saw who was taller than my dad! I was just a little girl, but there are two things I will always remember about that night. One of them was all the looks and rubber-necking that went on when we walked into the restaurant with Wes and Butch. The other was simply what nice people Wes and Butch were. Totally unassuming. Just really sweet boys.”