| Wins against Kentucky - 0 | Losses against Kentucky - 2 |
Alma Mater: Tulane [1952]
Hometown: Culver, IN
Date Born: March 20, 1927
Date Died: June 15, 2016
| Date | Matchup | UK Result | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/7/1966 | Tulane at Kentucky | W | 103 - 74 | - |
| 1/11/1965 | Kentucky at Tulane | W | 102 - 72 | - |
Obituary - find-a-grave
Former Tulane basketball coach Ralph Pedersen passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at MillerŐs Merry Manor in Culver.
Ralph was born March 20, 1927 in Haugesund, Norway, to parents Jacob and Milly, joining siblings Ruth & Peter. He arrived in New York aboard the SS Bargensfjord on August 11, 1930.
On June 4, 1949 he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Snyder. The ceremony took place in the original Methodist Church on Main St., Culver, officiated by Rev. Quentin Hand.
The Tulane Hall of Fame member played basketball at Tulane under Cliff Wells from 1948-1952.
Upon graduation from Tulane, they moved back to Culver. In August 1952 they moved to Koontz Lake when Ralph accepted a teacher/coach position at Tyner High School. In July 1954 they moved to Culver when Ralph accepted a teacher/coach position at Culver High School.
In 1957 the family moved to New Orleans when Ralph accepted a position as Asst. Basketball Coach at Tulane. He served as freshman basketball coach and recruiting coordinator under Coach Wells from 1957-1962. He would leave Tulane only briefly to become assistant coach to Bob Vanatta at the University of Missouri from 1962-1964. He was lured back to Tulane and became head basketball coach from 1964 to 1971. Pedersen spent the next 11 years, 1972-1983, as assistant athletic director where he was responsible for fundraising for Tulane Athletics, a new department.
One of Pedersen's proudest achievements was signing the first African-American, Harold Sylvester, to a full athletic scholarship to play at Tulane and in the SEC. He also coached four All-Americans during his tenure at Tulane, was inducted into the Tulane Hall of Fame in 1993, and inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2003. He was a Life Member of Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
In June 1992 Barbara and Ralph moved to Culver to spend their retirement years. They were members of Wesley United Methodist Church in Culver.
Survivors include son Craig (Shelli) Pedersen of Greenwood IN, daughter Karen (Gregg) Clapp of Land O' Lakes, FL, four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded by his parents, his wife, Barbara, and brother, Peter M. Pederson.
