Former UK football player Herschel Turner has passed away

UK Athletics

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW)- Former Kentucky football player Herschel Turner, 82, has passed away.

UK Athletics announced the news in a press release on Friday.

Turner was living in Chesterfield, Missouri and a memorial mass will he held Ascension Catholic Church in Chesterfield on Saturday, February 1 at 1 p.m.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Bonnie; brother Mike; son Chris and daughter Julie Mignerey; and six grandchildren.

Turner was an offensive and defensive lineman for the Wildcats from 1961 to 1963 when he was a first team All-American selection.

The UK Athletics Hall of Famer was born in Houston, Kentucky, but grew up in Northern Kentucky.

During his time at Campbell County High School, Turner ran track and garnered little college football recruiting attention until Kentucky saw him play in an all-star game in 1960.

Then he was offered a scholarship.

At Kentucky, Turner was an all conference player as a sophomore, junior and senior, when he also became an All-American.

After college, he was selected in the second round of the 1964 NFL Draft by St. Louis and played for the Cardinals for two seasons before a knee injury ended his playing career.

After football, he had a career as the owner of Ray Engel Packaging Supplies Company.