Athlete – Track & Field, Football
A two-year, All-State, All-American in track & field, Sterling Ward left an indelible mark on sports in Lexington. The proud Bryan Station Defender was fourth in the nation in the triple jump and won two state titles in the triple jump his junior and senior years. He also set an indoor record at the prestigious Mason-Dixon Games in Louisville, KY, with a Jump of 49’-2.5 inches. That same year, Sterling injured himself by pulling his hamstring the week of the state meet. Though injured, he was determined to compete and win the long jump that got away his junior year. He pulled off a miraculous jump, barely turning his legs in his hitch kick to jump 23 feet and some inches. Sterling pulled a double his senior year, winning the long jump and triple jump while injured. Just imagine how far he would have jumped if not for the injury.
A multisport athlete, Sterling excelled at football as well. He was All-City and All-State Honorable Mention in football from 1986-1988 and started two years as a defensive back and swing back. Sterling was one of the main players for the Defenders his senior year and was the only player from Lexington to play in the prestigious Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Game in Knoxville, TN. One of the coaches told the players whoever hit the hardest will start on defense. That was Sterling’s specialty – defense and hitting. Naturally, he earned the first starting spot and also won the “Most Athletic” award, the Jack Givens Award, and numerous other recognitions. Sterling and his wombmate/twin sister Starlena were the Homecoming King and Queen their senior year. The title read “A Star Was Born on a Sterling Night.”
Sterling earned a full scholarship to the University of Kentucky and played football from 1988-1992. He was a three-year starter at defensive back and earned the “Black Watch” honor for being a tough and courageous player. Only a few players were awarded the coveted black face mask and tape on their helmet. Sterling didn’t get to run track at UK until his junior year because his football coaches wanted him to gain weight for competing on the gridiron.
Sterling earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Social Work. While in college, he wanted to give back to his community on the West Side – Charlotte Court, a.k.a. CC State. Sterling also started the Wildcat Cub Club. This was the first mentoring program ever created in which all UK athletes could participate. The Cub Club adopted Booker T. Washington Elementary, where Sterling attended grade school. More than 50 UK athletes volunteered to read and play games with the children and even sponsored a big cookout at the end of the year. This program continued for several years after Sterling graduated, leaving a legacy of service for other UK student-athletes to follow.
After graduating from UK, Sterling went on to pursue his social work career, working at numerous local agencies. He ended his career as a social worker for Fayette County Public Schools. While with Fayette County, Sterling coached football and track for 27 years, winning County Middle School Championships in both sports.
Sterling and Deborah Ward have been married 11 years. They are proud parents of five wonderful, young adults through marriage – Tommy, Blake, Dillon, Sterling, Jr., and Hannah. Sterling and Deborah are also blessed to have a bunch of great and beautiful grandkids. One of 10 siblings, Sterling is the son of Bethel Harry Ward, Sr., and the late Lucille Moore Ward.
