The history of sports in Northern Kentucky goes back a long way. A very long way. Decades. Centuries.
We know you’ve seen these lists before, but this is a different and unique way of presenting our “50 sports icons in Northern Kentucky” as we’ll provide you one per day over the next 50 days.
Hall of Fames are everywhere in NKY, the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame, High School Athletic Directors Hall of Fame, NKU, Thomas More and local high schools all have something to recognize their past.
We’ll preface this series by saying this, some of you may disagree with who should or shouldn’t be in the top 50 and that’s fine. Plenty are in the Hall of Very Good, but we feel these 50 are the one’s who stuck out to us.
A weekly roundup of NKY sports headlines right to you every Monday at noon.
Sports Editor Evan Dennison spoke and conferred with several local NKY sports history buffs to get their opinions and lists of their own and who should be “locks” for the 50 sports icons. We compiled each list and came up with the 50 of our own (maybe cheated a little by putting families in as one) to present over the next 50 days.
Hope you enjoy as summer time rolls on!
The 37th of the 50 sports icons is Bob Arnzen, the Fort Thomas native who has been a pillar in the community past his pro career life.
BOB ARNZEN
Arnzen grew up in Fort Thomas before heading across the river to attend St. Xavier in high school. He led the Bombers to the state championship game in 1965, finishing runner-up and Arnzen earning Tournament MVP honors.
He then headed to Notre Dame where he starred in two sports for the Irish, playing basketball and baseball. He was a three-year Academic All-American in basketball who was eventually named to Notre Dame’s All-Century Team while also compiling a 3.30 ERA in 106 career innings as a pitcher with the Irish. He was just one of three Academic All-American, first team members three times in a 60-year span. The university also awarded him the George Keogan Award most valuable player award in his sophomore and junior years.
He was drafted in 1969 by the Detroit Pistons and played in the NBA for five years with the Pacers, New York Nets and Cincinnati Royals. He won an ABA championship with the Pacers in 1973.
He also pitched for the Montreal Expos organization, reaching the AAA level twice.
After his pro careers, Arnzen and his partner, Michael Foellger bought what is now the Olde Fort Pub in Fort Thomas in 1977. He still owns it to this day as they are close to their 50th anniversary.
Bob was also in the Fort Thomas Army Reserve from 1969-1975. After his pro career, most people in Fort Thomas know Bob and his wife Joanne, through their civic volunteering duties and business ownership.
See the 50 sports icons on a day-to-day basis over the next 50 days
— Day 1:
Dave Cowens
— Day 2:
Shaun Alexander
— Day 3:
Homer Rice
— Day 4:
Dicky Beal
— Day 5:
Jared Lorenzen
— Day 6:
Jim Bunning
— Day 7:
Tom Ellis
— Day 8:
Nate Dusing
— Day 9:
Jim Connor
— Day 10:
Steve Cauthen
— Day 11:
Irv Goode
— Day 12:
Stan Steidel
— Day 13:
Kenney Shields
— Day 14:
David Justice
— Day 15:
Morgan Hentz
— Day 16:
Eddie Arcaro
— Day 17:
Nancy Winstel
— Day 18:
Steve Flesch
— Day 19:
Donna Murphy
— Day 20:
Randy Marsh
— Day 21:
Mike Yeagle
— Day 22:
Derrick Barnes
— Day 23:
Dale Mueller
— Day 24:
Dave Faust
— Day 25:
Kirsten Allen
— Day 26:
The Oldendick family
— Day 27:
Martin “Mote” Hils
— Day 28:
Nell Fookes
— Day 29:
Owen Hauck
— Day 30:
Becky Ruehl
— Day 31:
Tom Thacker
— Day 32:
Sydney Moss
— Day 33:
Bob Schneider
— Day 34:
The Walz family
— Day 35:
John Toebben
— Day 36:
Pat Scott
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