Remembering Don McGuire
Don McGuire (’54) a member of the legendary Hilltoppers musical quartet, passed away, September 6, 2018 at the age of 86. McGuire attended WKU on a basketball scholarship after a spectacular performance in the state high school all-star game, but it was his musical skill that brought him the greatest acclaim during his time on the Hill in the 1950s.
Along with McGuire, the Hilltoppers included Jimmy Sacca (’53), Seymour Spiegelman (’53) and former Westerner Billy Vaughn. Skyrocketing the top of the recording charts in less than three years, the group was recognized as the number-one vocal combination by Billboard and Cash Box magazines, and they consistently remained one of America’s Top Ten through 1960. The young men recorded their first hit, “Trying,” in Van Meter Auditorium while they were students at WKU. In a 2016 KET documentary, McGuire, who was the last surviving member of the quartet, recalled there were just 12 people in the room for the recording, though, “to this day, nearly a quarter-million people have claimed to be in there.”
In all, a total of 21 Hilltopper songs made the way onto Billboard’s Top 40 Hit List, and the group enjoyed record sales in excess of 8 million copies. They also appeared on Ed Sullivan’s Toast of the Town and on American Bandstand.
McGuire released his biography, “From Big Bottom to Broadway: Remembering the Singing Hilltoppers,” where he shared what he called an unbelievable ride around the world. “And to think it happened to me still seems unbelievable,” he wrote.
Over the years, McGuire continued to remain involved with his alma mater. A Lifetime Member of the WKU Alumni Association, he served as President of the WKU Alumni Association Board of Directors in 1979-1980. In addition, memorabilia from the Hilltoppers is housed in the WKU Museum in the Augenstein Alumni Center, which opened in 2013.
McGuire made his home in Lexington, Ky. He is survived by his wife, Maxine; his children Kreis (’80), Cindy and Lisa; and several grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his Hilltopper family.
Remembering Bobby McGuire
Bobby McGuire, of Decatur, Georgia went to be with our Lord on December 15, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 80. He was born in Hazard, Kentucky, February 12,1929 to the late Asher and Pearl McGuire. Bobby graduated from Hazard High School in 1947 where he lettered in four sports. He was a first team All-State basketball player, was a pitcher, and won every baseball game in which he played at HHS. He was asked by Paul “Bear” Bryant to tryout for the University of Kentucky football team, but chose to attend Vanderbilt University on a basketball scholarship. Bobby transferred to Western Kentucky University in the fall of 1948 where he played basketball for the legendary coach, Ed Diddle. He was later drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers organization as a pitcher. After graduating from Western and receiving his masters degree from the University of Kentucky, he entered the US Army. He was Captain of a MASH Unit in Virginia and later in Germany. He married Charlotte Watson, his high school sweetheart, in 1952. He later coached basketball and baseball at Erlanger High School and Atherson High School. In the late 1950’s he joined Holt, Rinehart and Winston Publishing Company and moved to Decatur, Georgia in 1962. He became Vice President for Sales and was inducted into the company’s Hall of Fame in 1983. Mr. McGuire served as National Alumni President for Western Ky. University in 1968 and 1969. He was inducted into the Dawahare Athletic Hall of Fame in Kentucky in 1996. Survivors include his wife, Charlotte, one brother, Don McGuire of Lexington, Kentucky, sons Brent and Patrick, and five grandchildren. Mr. McGuire was a member of the Clairmont Hills Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga. for forty-eight years, forty-four of those years were spent teaching Sunday School.
Through the Bobby and Don McGuire Scholarship Fund created by friends and family, Bobby and Don’s memory will live on in perpetuity.
