Kenneth I. Cox

KENNETH IRVIN COX 84, of Plainfield, passed away on March 1, 2013. He was born August 17, 1928 in Olie, KY, the son of the late Fred and Ruby Cox. He served in the U.S. Army for two years. Kenny graduated from West Point, KY High School in 1946. He played baseball and basketball for four years, captain his senior year. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army and played two seasons for the Army basketball team. After release from the Army, Kenny played professional baseball for 8 1/2 years for the Saint Louis Cardinals and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Kenny attended Georgetown College where he was a member of the basketball team from 1953-1955 and received his Bachelor degree . He then completed his Masters degree from Indiana University in 1960. Upon graduation from Georgetown, Kenny became a teacher at Ben Davis High School in Wayne Township, Indianapolis. During this period of time, he established the high school's first gymnastic program in 1955-56. From 1961 through 1985, Kenny served as the Head Baseball Coach for Ben Davis High School. His career record includes 440 wins, seven sectional winners, four regional winners, two semi-state winners and one runners-up for state title. In 1981 Kenny's Ben Davis High School team won the state championship. In 1952 the State of Kentucky awarded Kenny Seventh place for the Outstanding Student of the American Baseball Congress, the National Amateur Baseball Association, The nation's highest award for former sandlot players. In 2006 he was inducted into the Georgetown College Athletics Hall of Fame. The State of Indiana awarded Kenny the following honors: 1980 The John "Casey" Etchison award for Connie Mack Baseball; 1981 Indiana High School Baseball Coach of the Year; 1980-1981 Coach of Indiana High School All Stars; five time County Coach of the Year and four time Conference Coach of the Year. In 1988, Kenny was inducted into the Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame. Kenny was preceded in death by his loving wife Jan in 1980. He is survived by his devoted wife Fern Bingham Cox, his daughters Cheryl (Brian) May and Kristi (Jerry) Butner both of Avon, brother Cortland (Emma) Cox of Hodgenville, KY. He was preceded in death by his brother Lawrence, sisters Virtia Mae and Roberta. He has seven grandchildren, Kaley and Brandon May, McKenna Copeland, Taylor, Drew, Colby and Chance Butner. Friends are invited to call from 2 to 8pm on Tuesday, March 5th at Conkle Funeral Home in Avon. Services will be conducted at Speedway Baptist Church at 11am on Wednesday, March 6th with Dr. Larry Hamm officiating. Burial will be at Maple Hill Cemetery, Plainfield. Please consider donating in the memory of Kenneth Cox to the American Heart Association or to the St. Vincent's Foundation ( Sitter Program) at 2001 West 86th Street, Indianapolis 46260. Please specify on the check that it is for the sitter program. His passion for the game goes far beyond winning ~~it is about molding the lives of his players and students by developing honesty, integrity, perseverance, and responsibility.