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Joseph R. “Babe” Kimbrough ’23

Brother Kimbrough was initiated into the Beta-Nu Chapter on March 21, 1923. He was a retired journalist who followed his interest in sports so far as to manage a professional basketball team. The West Paducah native had worked for the Frankfort State Journal, Horsemand & Fair World Magazine and the former Lexington Herald. His jobs at the Herald included political writer, sports editor, city editor, state editor and editorial writer during the 1930s and 1940s. In 1949, he became part-owner and manager of the Indianapolis Olympians, a professional team that played in the National Basketball Association until the early 1950s.

The 1925 graduate of the University of Kentucky served two stints as the House Father of Beta-Nu Chapter. He retired as House Father in 1979. He was a veteran and served in the Army in World War II. He was involved in the real estate business and was affiliated with Clark Reality in Lexington in his later years.

Babe had a tremendous impact with his leadership for both the Beta-Nu Chapter and the University of Kentucky Fraternity and Sorority system. He received the Distinguished Commendation Award from the Supreme Executive Committee for his service to Beta-Nu Chapter.