Dr. Bill Culbertson will be remembered as a life-saving doctor but 56 years ago he was a lineman on one of Ashland’s greatest football teams in 1967.
Culbertson, who died on Saturday morning (Aug. 5) in Paducah, was an All-State center for the Tomcats who finished with a 13-1 record and as the Class AA state champions.
As a football player, teammate John Radjunas said there was none better.
“He always did his job, never missed an assignment or block and never bragged or boasted,” Radjunas, the quarterback for the Tomcats that season, said. “He may have been the best of all of us as a player and person.”
Radjunas said Culbertson used his mind and was a tactician as a blocker. He also knew every blocking assignment of the entire offensive line.
“If we called a sneak, he would always tell me which side to go behind him depending on which way he would block his man,” Radjunas said. “I never knew or remember a bad snap he ever made from the scrimmage line or long snapping.”
On a team full of stars, Radjunas said Culbertson shone the brightest.
“Les Lyons, Paull Hill and Steve Scott were great high school football players and belong in any conversation about all-time Tomcat greats. But if I had to pick one player off our team that belongs on an All-Tomcat Football Team it would be Bill Culbertson. He played both ways and never came out of the game.”
One of Culbertson’s biggest defensive plays came in a memorable 21-20 win over McKell at Putnam Stadium. Culbertson blocked a punt and ran it back 52 yards for a touchdown. He had another TD on a 6-yard interception return against Russell.
With the Tomcats trailing 20-14 late in the game with McKell and Paul Hill’s grinding runs getting them near the goal line, Radjunas audibled and called for a quarterback sneak because of the trust he had in Culbertson’s blocking. He plunged into the end zone behind the big center to tie the game with 1:06 remaining. Hill’s extra point won it 21-20 against the Don Gullett-led Bulldogs.
Culbertson typically dominated whoever was in front of him except for one man -.Harry Lyles of Stonewall Jackson. Lyles was a one-man wrecking crew, totaling 26 tackles, as Stonewall Jackson downed the Tomcats 13-3 in Putnam Stadium. It would be their lone loss. In the book, Tragedy and Triumph, Culbertson recalled trying to block Lyles.
“You could not touch that guy. He played six yards off the ball. Even if I took the angle, he was too quick. That was my black spot for the year. He was definitely best player I played against in high school. You just couldn’t get to him. I remember it was a close game but mostly what I remember about that game is getting beat by Harry Lyles practically every play.”
Culbertson, who was known for his humble personality, said Lyles did the same thing to him as a junior. He believed in giving credit where it was due.
Culbertson, one of eight Tomcats who received a scholarship, went to North Carolina State and started three of the four seasons for the Wolfpack.
He was destined for much more than football though.
Dr. Culbertson was a highly regarded pulmonologist and critical care specialist in Paducah, Kentucky. Culbertson completed medical school at the University of Louisville and did his residency and fellowship as a pulmonologist at Alabama-Birmingham. He established the Respiratory Disease Clinic in Paducah and was in private practice for four decades.
A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Milner & Orr Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Paducah. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
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