Athlete – Basketball
Bobby Washington was a brilliant basketball star at Lexington Dunbar. He energized the play of the Bearcats as a sophomore and was part of one of the best guard combinations in school history. Bobby provided offensive punch and defensive leadership as he helped the Bearcats to a runner-up finish in the Boys’ State Basketball Tournament in 1963. Known as Dunbar’s “Kingpin,” “the spark,” and a “smooth-passing southpaw,” Bobby helped Dunbar to a return trip in 1964. His senior year, Dunbar made its third consecutive trip to the state tournament, where he directed the attack for the Bearcats en route to being named to the All-Tournament team. Dunbar’s revered Coach S.T. Roach noted Bobby could fire his famous jump shot with great accuracy from either hand.
Bobby started 85 games during his prep career and averaged 18 points per game. He was named to numerous All-Tournament teams and received All-City, All-District, All-Region and All-State honors as a sophomore, junior and senior. Bobby was a member of the Kentucky All-Stars and was named to the Prep All-American squad in 1965. Bobby went on to play on the collegiate level for Eastern Kentucky University, where he was named Most Valuable Freshman and Most Valuable Player of the Ohio Valley Conference. His collegiate honors include being named All-Conference for three years while playing for the Colonels.
Bobby played on the professional level, beginning with the Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association and later was the spark plug and known as “The General” for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association. After injuries forced his retirement from the pro ranks, Bobby began a career in teaching and coaching boys’ basketball at Bryan Station High School in Lexington. Bobby finished his coaching career with 310 wins and 176 losses. He coached numerous players who went on to play college basketball. Bobby’s teams won six district titles, one 11th Region title, and went to the semifinals of the state tournament in 1989.
