Calvin Charles Luther

Coach Calvin Charles Luther was born in Valdosta, Georgia, on October 23, 1927, as the only child of Corinne and Harold Luther. He grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he was a high school all state football and basketball player. After high school he spent two years as a paratrooper for the 82nd Airborne Division and after attended Valparaiso University in Indiana on a basketball scholarship.

His first head coaching position was at Depauw University in Indiana where he led them to a conference championship. Coach Luther then moved his family to Murray, Kentucky where he was the men's basketball coach at Murray State University from 1958 – 1974, the longest tenure in Racer history. He led the Racers to the NCAA tournament in 1964 and 1969, both times being named OVC Coach of the Year. He was inducted into the Murray State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2000.

After leaving Murray, he coached at Longwood University in Virginia and coached the Egyptian National Basketball team in 1990 and spent one season coaching in a professional league in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

The next nine years were spent at U.T. Martin, where he OVC Coach of the Year in 1996. In 2017 he joined the U.T. Martin Athletics Hall of Fame. After retiring he loved mentoring young coaches and players and working doing color on radio basketball games for the U.T. martin Skyhawks.

In the off season he loved to sailfish, cruise with his wife, and travel with her and their dog, "Prissy". A loving husband and father, his family will miss his wit, wisdom, and passion for all things.

He is survived by his wife, Linda Luther of Martin, Tennessee; his children, Debbie Luther Hill (Rick) of Dyersburg, Tennessee and his son, Dr. Dan Luther (Terri) of Huntsville, Alabama; four grandchildren, Lance and Blake Hill and Michelle and Michael Luther.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Coach Cal Luther Scholarship with a check made payable to Murray State University Foundation, 200 Heritage Hall, Murray, Kentucky 42071.

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services and will be streamed live on the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home and Cremation Services Facebook page. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, May 16, 2021, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Online condolences can be made at, www.thejhchurchillfuneralhome.com