| Wins against Kentucky - 0 | Losses against Kentucky - 2 |
Alma Mater: Florida (*)
Hometown: Center Hill, FL
Date Born: October 26, 1911
Date Died: June 8, 1968
Overall Record: 22-33 [3 Seasons]
| Date | Matchup | UK Result | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3/1/1946 | Kentucky vs. Florida | W | 69 - 32 | SEC Tournament (at Louisville, KY) |
| 3/1/1945 | Kentucky vs. Florida | W | 57 - 35 | SEC Tournament (at Louisville, KY) |
Obituary - Tampa (FL) Tribune (June 9, 1968)
Ex-Terrier Grid Coach Cherry Dies
by Jim Henderson
GAINESVILLE - Spurgeon H. Cherry, former coach of Tampa's Hillsborough High School and present assistant dean in the college of physical education and health here at the University of Florida, died at his home yesterday after a long illness. He was 56.
Cherry had been active in the University almost continuously since 1942 and at the time of his death was president-elect of the National Intramural Association, a post he previously held for several years.
He was born in Center Hill, Fla., a little community just south of Leesburg and east of Bushnell. He graduated from Leesburg High School and later from the UF with a BS and MA in physical education and health.
Cherry was a member of Florida Blue Key, a men's honorary service club, and Pi Kappa Phi social fraternity.
In athletics, he participated in football, baseball, basketball and track, lettering in all four sports - football, baseball and track once each and basketball in 1931-32-33.
He was elected to the All-Southern basketball team in 1933.
Cherry's coaching career started at Cross City High but he soon moved to Hillsborough, where he coached football in 1939, 1940 and 1941. The Terriers went 7-2-1 in his last year.
From there, he went to Florida, arriving in 1942 as an assistant football coach, head basketball coach, and professor of physical education and health.
During his years at the UF, he served as president of the Florida Coaches Association, the Florida Associationof Health, Physical Education and Recreation and the National Intramural Association.
Cherry was also chairman of the division of men's athletics and received the honor award from the Southern District of the American Association of Health, physical education and recreation. He also received the "distinguished service" award from the Florida Athletic Coaches Association, when it met here last August.
He was active in many organizations, both locally and nationally. He was a church board superintendent, a member of the Board of Stewards of the First Methodist Church of Gainesville and was active in the UF alumni association.
In addition, he was a member of the Florida Coach Association, the national college of physical education association, and was active in the President's Youth Physical Fitness Council. He wrote many articles for publication in this field.
Survivors include his wife, Idell Cherry of Gainesville, four sons, Robert S. Cherry of Gainesville, Sidney Kay Cherry of Ft. Pierce, John F. Cherry of Leesburg and John Ellis Cherry, now serving in Vietnam and six grandsons.
