Hall of Fame
Ray Giltner played four seasons (1946-49) for coach Turkey Hughes’ EKU baseball team, serving the Maroons as one of its starting pitchers. As a freshman in 1946, he earned the nickname “Big Ray” and had a highlight that season of striking out 18 batters in a win over Centre College. As a sophomore, he was one of four Maroon hurlers who threw one of just eight no-hitters in Eastern history as he whiffed all nine batters he faced in a 13-0 Eastern victory over Union College. Later on in his career, the Eastern pitching rotation of Giltner, Don Newsome and Carl Eagle was called “the best in the state”. He closed out his stellar four-year career with a 10-7 victory over the University of Louisville. Giltner earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Eastern in 1949 and a master’s degree in education from Eastern in 1950. Giltner, who passed away in 1995, was president of EKU’s Alumni Association in 1962-63 and again in 1990-91. He was also a director of the EKU Foundation and vice chair of the Foundation’s Planned Giving Committee. He was inducted into EKU’s Hall of Distinguished Alumni and was a charter member of the Colonel Club. In 1991, the University awarded him an honorary doctor of laws degree. He was also the chairman of the Kenton County Board of Education from 1978-86, retired president of the Envelope House in Covington, a stockholder and board member of The Recorder Newspapers and a former board member of the Huntington National Bank in Northern Kentucky. Giltner was also a Mason, a Shriner, a Church Elder, coach and a veteran of World War II. He is survived by his wife, Mary Jean; two daughters Becky and Mary Elizabeth; and six grandchildren.
