LB Ken Kuhn (R.I.P.)

[osugrad21]

RIP to the wildman...

Canton

Stark H.S. Hall of Famer Kuhn, 52, dies
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
By Andy Call REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

Former Louisville High and Ohio State football star Ken Kuhn, inducted into the Stark County High School Hall of Fame in July, died Sunday at his home in Pataskala, Ohio. He was 52.
Dr. Jeff Lee of the Licking County coroner?s office said Kuhn?s death was ruled a suicide after an examination completed Monday afternoon.
The Warren F. Kauber Funeral Home in Pataskala said no funeral service will be conducted. Those wishing to send donations in Kuhn?s memory to Westerville Christian Church or the Mount Carmel East chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous can do so by calling the funeral home at (740) 927-3971.
Kuhn had worked in sales since retiring from football in 1977, the last two years with J&D Basement Systems.
He is survived by his wife, the former Susan O?Grady, and sons Nathaniel and Jacob, both college students.
AID TO SCHOOL
Family friend Chris Weber of Pataskala said Kuhn was instrumental in helping fend off a $425 pay-to-play fee scheduled at Watkins Memorial High in 2003.
Kuhn secured former Ohio State players as keynote speakers for fundraising dinners over the next two seasons that helped offset those costs.
Kuhn also helped revive the area?s then-dormant youth football program, starting the Southwest Licking Youth Football Association from scratch. The league now boasts more than 200 players.
?The kids here may never get to know Ken Kuhn, but they are always going to benefit from his efforts,? Weber said. ?Woody Hayes always preached, ?Pay ahead,? and that?s exactly what Ken did here. He paid ahead. He left a legacy.?
Louisville High?s football team was undefeated in 1971 (10-0), and Kuhn was its star. The fullback, linebacker and captain was named Most Valuable Player in Stark County and first-team All-Ohio. He won letters in football, basketball and track and set a school record in the shot put (53 feet, 10 inches) that still stands.
?He was our captain, our All-American,? Louisville teammate Dave Mazzan said in February. ?He was a beast.?
A memorable photograph of Kuhn being carried off the field by fans after the Leopards? final-game victory over Minerva can be viewed at the Web site louisvilleleopards.com.
Kuhn was captain of the North team for the Ohio North-South All-Star Game in the summer of 1972, then enrolled at Ohio State. He lettered all four years, helping the Buckeyes to four consecutive Big Ten title and Rose Bowl appearances.
The two-time Academic All-Big Ten linebacker was named Ohio State?s co-captain for the 1975 season. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Kuhn in the seventh round of the 1976 draft. Knee and shoulder injuries prevented him from appearing in a regular-season game, and Kuhn retired before the 1977 season.

 

[Best Buckeye]

I remember you Ken Kuhn. you were an impact player and a great Buckeye. You are gone but as long as I am here , not forgotten.
RIP Ken.

 

[JCOSU86]

His chapter in the book "Woody's Boys" is an interesting read. Apparently, he didn't get along well with the OSU LB coach at that time and never referred to him by name, preferring "my coach". When someone introduced Tom Skladany (I think it was him) at a bar on campus, Kuhn took a bite out of his glass.

Definitely a Wildman. RIP.

 

[Steve19]

He entered Ohio State at the same time as I did and graduated the same year. I met him a few times at parties and he may have been wild, but he was a nice guy. Not a "look at the football star" kind of guy. If you look at that website, you indicates that his life had not played out as he hoped and that he had experienced great sadness. He said he had reached a very good space spiritually. I am sorry that he was haunted and sad.

I don't know if anyone who takes his own life ever rests in peace, but I hope that he does.

 

[WoodyWorshiper]

I guress you really never know what's gong on inside a man's head. I remember Ken distinctly as a kid growing up, he hit like a truck and had excellent cover skills as well. Very impressive to be a Captain of the great 1975 team. As some may know, Ken and Co-Captain Tim Fox were brother-in Laws. I know alot of talk surfaced when Dustin was here about both of his uncles being former Buckeye greats. This is just sad and tragic news at a tough time of the year for it to happen (like there's ever a good time.) RIP Ken, heartfelt condolences to the Kuhn and Fox families.

 

[BB73]

RIP Ken. Thanks for being a part of the great Buckeye Rose Bowl teams from '72 to '75.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

Ex-Ohio State player dies day after Michigan game
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH



It was fitting that on the day before he died, Ken Kuhn was part of the "tunnel of pride" Saturday in Ohio Stadium.
The tunnel is a double line of former Ohio State players, through which the team runs onto the field. According to his Ohio State teammates, Kuhn was happiest when he was with his Buckeyes buddies.
"He loved them, he loved the guys and hanging out with his teammates," former OSU lineman John Hicks said. "A big part of his life was maintaining relationships."
Kuhn, 52, died Sunday at his Pataskala home.
A Canton native and Louisville High School graduate, Kuhn lettered for Ohio State from 1972 through 1975. A linebacker, he was part of winning four Big Ten titles and four trips to the Rose Bowl.
"I remember he intercepted a ball as a freshman against Wisconsin, and he was jumping up and down," Hicks said. "We told him to go sit down, this battle ain?t over."
Kuhn was a captain in 1975, along with Archie Griffin, Tim Fox and Brian Baschnagel.
After leaving OSU, Kuhn was a seventh-round draft choice of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1976, but injuries prevented him from playing in the NFL. He had worked in sales since his retirement from football.
Kuhn is survived by his wife, Susan, and sons Nathan and Jacob.
"He was a great player and a fun friend," Hicks said. "I?m going to miss him dearly." [email protected]

 

[alpacaman]

#54 Kuhndog

Can't believe I found out about Kuhndog's passing just now, in 2009. We were close at OSU, doing the Agora shows, running around in the limo or cougar, frequent visits to each other's apartments. Kenny's warm smiles and party-hearty times were surpassed by his dedicated hard playing for the Buckeyes, following his brother's footsteps and making more of his own. Party in peace, Kuhndog, we all will meet again and have figured out how to make the next go'round better. Very glad that you were my friend.

 

[Steve Badgley]

RIP to the wildman...

Canton

Stark H.S. Hall of Famer Kuhn, 52, dies
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
By Andy Call REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

Former Louisville High and Ohio State football star Ken Kuhn, inducted into the Stark County High School Hall of Fame in July, died Sunday at his home in Pataskala, Ohio. He was 52.
Dr. Jeff Lee of the Licking County coroner?s office said Kuhn?s death was ruled a suicide after an examination completed Monday afternoon.
The Warren F. Kauber Funeral Home in Pataskala said no funeral service will be conducted. Those wishing to send donations in Kuhn?s memory to Westerville Christian Church or the Mount Carmel East chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous can do so by calling the funeral home at (740) 927-3971.
Kuhn had worked in sales since retiring from football in 1977, the last two years with J&D Basement Systems.
He is survived by his wife, the former Susan O?Grady, and sons Nathaniel and Jacob, both college students.
AID TO SCHOOL
Family friend Chris Weber of Pataskala said Kuhn was instrumental in helping fend off a $425 pay-to-play fee scheduled at Watkins Memorial High in 2003.
Kuhn secured former Ohio State players as keynote speakers for fundraising dinners over the next two seasons that helped offset those costs.
Kuhn also helped revive the area?s then-dormant youth football program, starting the Southwest Licking Youth Football Association from scratch. The league now boasts more than 200 players.
?The kids here may never get to know Ken Kuhn, but they are always going to benefit from his efforts,? Weber said. ?Woody Hayes always preached, ?Pay ahead,? and that?s exactly what Ken did here. He paid ahead. He left a legacy.?
Louisville High?s football team was undefeated in 1971 (10-0), and Kuhn was its star. The fullback, linebacker and captain was named Most Valuable Player in Stark County and first-team All-Ohio. He won letters in football, basketball and track and set a school record in the shot put (53 feet, 10 inches) that still stands.
?He was our captain, our All-American,? Louisville teammate Dave Mazzan said in February. ?He was a beast.?
A memorable photograph of Kuhn being carried off the field by fans after the Leopards? final-game victory over Minerva can be viewed at the Web site louisvilleleopards.com.
Kuhn was captain of the North team for the Ohio North-South All-Star Game in the summer of 1972, then enrolled at Ohio State. He lettered all four years, helping the Buckeyes to four consecutive Big Ten title and Rose Bowl appearances.
The two-time Academic All-Big Ten linebacker was named Ohio State?s co-captain for the 1975 season. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Kuhn in the seventh round of the 1976 draft. Knee and shoulder injuries prevented him from appearing in a regular-season game, and Kuhn retired before the 1977 season.