| Overall UK Wins: 4 | Overall UK Losses: 0 | Win % 100 |
Date of Birth: December 16, 1888
Date of Death: August 28, 1927
Hometown: Lexington, KY
Alma Mater: Kentucky [1911]
Notes: Kentucky football assistant coach

For a generalized listing of officials, please consult this page.

Obituary - Lexington Herald (August 29, 1927)

RICHARD WEBB SUCCUMBS TO LONG ILLNESS

Nationally-Known Motor Bus Operator, Prominent Lexington Business Man Dies Sunday Morning

FUNERAL SERVICE TO BE HELD TUESDAY AT 3 P.M.

Was Active as Alumnus of U. of K.; Once Mentioned for All-American Football Team

Richard Spurr Webb, Jr., 39 years old, prominent Lexington business man and vice president and general manager of the Consolidated Coach Corporation, died at his home on East Maxwell street Sunday morning at 2:30 o'clock following a protracted illness.

Mr. Webb left Lexington July 30 for Bowling Green, Ohio, where he entered a private sanatorium for treatment. Leaving there about two weeks ago, his condition gradually grew worse until all hope of his recovery was abandoned.

He desired to be brought to his home here and accompanied by his wife and a physician from Lima, Ohio, where he had been for a time in a critical condition, he was brought to Lexington, arriving here Saturday night at 9:30 o'clock. He steadily grew weaker until death came.

Before going to Bowling Green for treatment Mr. Webb had visited various health resorts throughout the country without avail.

Was U.K. Graduate

Mr. Webb was a graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he was a prominent student and athlete. Soon after obtaining his degree from the university in 1911 he entered into an active business career, his first efforts being in the building career, his first efforts being in the building and contracting business and as a farmer.

He later entered the automobile business, talking over the Studebaker agency. He was one of the largest dealers in the Studebaker organization and won many prizes in that organization for records established in sales.

He built on West Main street, his first Mammoth garage, which he later sold, and then constructed the Mammoth garage on East Main street. In addition to his garages in Lexington, he built, owned and operated a large garage in Paris, which he recently sold. He also built, owned and operated a large chain of gasoline filling stations in central Kentucky, which he later disposed of to the Gulf Refining Company.

Had Many Holdings

At the time of his death he owned and operated the Mammoth garage in Lexington, with the Studebaker sales agency, which covered a large portion of eastern Kentucky. He also owned and operated the Farmer Motor Company, with garages at Pineville, Middlesboro, Harlan and Wallins. The latest addition to his chain of garages was the purchase and operation of the building known as the City Hall garage a Limestone and Bar, in Lexington.

He owned and operated the Jefferson hotel in Jackson, several Blue Grass farms, a large boundary of land in Arkansas and considerable real estate in Lexington.

In recent years, his greatest efforts have been in the development of motor transportation lines. At the time of his death he was the vice president and general manager of the Consolidated Coach Corporation, the largest interurban bus operation in Kentucky and the fourth largest in the United State, operating 150 motor coaches in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio and Tennessee.

Won National Prominence

Mr. Webb entered the bus field in 1924. As a bus operator he soon attracted national attention and at the time of his death was known throughout the United States in motor bus circles as one of its outstanding figure. It was largely through his efforts that the Studebaker corporation entered the bus manufacturing field, many of the features of design in this bus chassis being adopted upon the recommendations of Mr. Webb. He also was the designer of bus bodies, and the present "Pullmans of the Highways" used by the C.C.C. lines were built under his personal direction.

In addition to his large holdings in the Consolidated, he was the owner of an extensive bus system in southeastern Kentucky.

Two years prior to his death, the Mammoth garage was destroyed by fire. It was his herculean efforts to rebuild this garage and not interfere with his garage and bus business that first caused a break in his health and from that time on there was a gradual decline.

Born in Fayette

He was the son of Richard Spurr Webb, who died in 1921, and Mary Gunn Webb, who makes her home in Lexington. He was born in the old family home in Fayette county December 16, 1888. He spent his childhood in Fayette county and received his early education in the public schools here. At an early age he entered the preparatory department of the University of Kentucky, graduating from there and entering the university, where he was an honor student. He graduated from the College of Mechanical Engineering in June 1911. Prior to his graduation, on December 24, 1910, he married Allie B. Wilkirson. While at college, Mr. Webb distinguished himself as a student, college leader and athlete. He was one of the best known and most popular men on the campus, being known o all as "Dick" Webb. He worked his way through college.

While at the university he gained national recognition as an athlete, having played center on the football team for four years, playing every game during that period except one, a remarkable record in itself. He played in the famous Kentucky-Illinois game, when the local team won an unexpected victory, and so brilliant was his play in that game that he received mention for all-American honors. He was captain of the 1910 team.

Was Active Alumnus

After graduating from the University, Mr. Webb kept in close touch with all of its activities and was especially interested in the football teams. He supplied with ???? many aspiring young college athletes and was the direct source of the many worthy young men working their way through the university. He also assisted the football coaching staff and was a volunteer member of it during most of the years since his graduation. In 1922 he was named freshman football coach and produced that year Kentucky's first southern championship freshman football team. He also initiated the movement which resulted in the building by the alumni and friends of the university the present football stadium, ??? the nucleus of the stadium fund being derived from receipts from he games of his championship freshman football team.

Funeral services will be held at the residence, 255 East Maxwell Street, Tuesday afternoon a ?? o'clock, the Rev. J.W. Porter, of the Immanuel Baptist church, and the Rev. O.M. Andrews, of the Centenary Methodist church, officiating. Mr. Webb was a member of the latter church. Following the service burial will be in the family lot in the Lexington Cemetery.

Six Children Survive

Mr. Webb is survived by his widow, six children, Julia Catherine, Mary Gunn, Mildred Filmore, Allie B., Richard S., III, and Ann; his mother, Mary Gunn Webb; a brother, John Webb, and a sister, Mrs. Peyton Howard.

Announcement was made by Guy A. Hugulet, secretary of the Consolidated Coach Corporation, that as a mark of respect to the memory of their late chief, the C.C.C. lines Tuesday afternoon between 4:10 and 4:15 o'clock would stop all of its busses, this being the time of the burial at the cemetery. In addition, all offices and shops of the company will be closed from ? to ? o'clock that afternoon.

The pallbearers for his funeral will be Fred G. Stilz, H. Al ???, Guy A. Huguelet, Rogert H. Sw???, I.B. Jones and George Nash.

This page was made with a Macintosh
What Flavor's Your Mac?