Talbott Todd Way Named in Honor of Former Cat, Current Supporter
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Aug. 24, 2016) — The alley between the University of Kentucky's Commonwealth Stadium and Nutter Field House has been named Talbott Todd Way in honor of Talbott Todd, a Kentucky football letterman from 1963-65 and supporter of the program diagnosed with ALS last year. The announcement was made at a special unveiling Aug. 19 at the Woodford Reserve Club at Commonwealth Stadium.
“I am overwhelmed, humbled and extremely proud of this tremendous honor and very grateful to UK Athletics and to my special friends who made this possible,” Todd said. “At the same, I would like to dedicate this to all former, current and future football players that so proudly wore, wear and will wear the Blue and White.”
Talbott Todd Way will be the new site of UK’s pregame Cat Walk presented by Chevy, where fans cheer the Wildcats on their arrival to Commonwealth Stadium each game day. Players and coaches will proceed from outside Gate 1 down Talbott Todd Way to the new Kentucky Football Training Facility two hours and 15 minutes prior to kickoff.
“We are so pleased to honor one of Kentucky football’s best people with the naming of Talbott Todd Way,” Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. “Talbott and his family have been incredible supporters of this program for so many years, exemplifying what it means to be a Wildcat.”
Todd – nicknamed the Richmond Rocket during his high-school days – came to UK from Richmond, Kentucky, as a highly sought-after quarterback/defensive back. He played both positions for Charlie Bradshaw, but spent most of his time in the secondary. He led the team in interceptions with four as a sophomore and memorably secured the game-clinching fumble recovery as UK ended top-ranked Ole Miss’s 22-game regular-season winning streak on the road in 1964.
After his playing career, Todd went on to an ongoing 49-year career with Northwestern Mutual and built a family with his wife of 51 years, Marilyn. The couple has two children, Jeff and Jim.
When he isn’t working or spending time with family, Todd is likely to be found cheering on or at least talking about UK sports, especially the football team. He has been steadfast in his support of the program, building relationships with countless coaches and players over the last five decades. In spite of being diagnosed with ALS, a debilitating neurodegenerative disease, Todd has remained a fixture at UK games and practices.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Guy Ramsey, 859-257-3838; guy.ramsey@uky.edu.