Mel Whedbee

Mel F. Whedbee

Biographical details
Born	(1904-02-14)February 14, 1904 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Died	July 11, 1974(1974-07-11) (aged 70) Topeka, Kansas, U.S.
Playing career
1941	Fisk
Position(s)	Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1959–1961	Kentucky State (assistant)
1961–1966	Kentucky State
Head coaching record
Overall	26–20–1

Melville F. Whedbee (February 14, 1904 – July 11, 1974) was an American college football player and coach. He served as the head football coach at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky from 1961 to 1966. Whedbee joined the coaching staff at Kentucky State in 1959 as an assistant under Sam B. Taylor.[1] He took over as head coach for an ailing Taylor midway through the 1961 season.[2] Whedbee was succeeded as head football coach by Charles Bates in 1967, but remained as an instructor in the physical education department at Kentucky State.[3]

Whedbee died on July 11, 1974, in Topeka, Kansas.[4]

Head coaching record

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Kentucky State (Midwest Athletic Association / Midwest Conference / Midwestern Conference) (1961–1966)
1961	Kentucky State	3–1[n 1]	1–1[n 1]	3rd
1962	Kentucky State	4–4	0–3	4th
1963	Kentucky State	5–4	1–2	3rd
1964	Kentucky State	7–3	1–2	3rd
1965	Kentucky State	4–4	0–3	4th
1966	Kentucky State	3–4–1	0–3	4th
Kentucky State:		26–20–1	3–14
Total:		26–20–1

Notes

1. Sam B. Taylor served as Kentucky State's head coach for the first five games of the 1961 season before ailing health forced him to hand control over the team over to Whedbee. The Thorobreds finished the season with an overall record of 6–3 with a mark of 1–2 in conference play.

References

1. Whitaker, Dave (September 10, 1959). "Ky. State Looks For Better Days". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. 18, section 2. Retrieved December 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
2. Benken, Tim (November 1, 1961). "Lincoln's Reed Sees Sunshine in Gloomy Loss". Jefferson City Post-Tribune. Jefferson City, Missouri. p. 10. Retrieved December 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
3. "Bates Is Returning To Kentucky State". Alabama Journal. Montgomery, Alabama. August 18, 1967. p. 18. Retrieved December 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .
4. "Louisville-area deaths, funerals". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. July 17, 1974. p. B13. Retrieved December 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com .

External links

• Mel Whedbee at Find a Grave