Columbus, OH — Charles Francis “Cotton” Nash, 80, one of the Kentucky Wildcats men’s basketball’s all-time greats, died May 23, 2023.

Charles Francis “Cotton” Nash, 80, died May 23, 2023. USTA/Ed Keys photo.

According to Lexington attorney Patrick Nash, one of Cotton Nash’s three children, the former UK basketball star had been battling significant medical issues since around Thanksgiving.

Once his days as a competitive athlete ended, Mr. Nash kept his hand in sports through breeding and racing Standardbreds. Rock N Roll Heaven, a horse bred by Mr. Nash and associates, was a world champion pacer, the 2010 Horse of the Year and was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2017. Artistic Vision, a mare owned by Mr. Nash, was inducted into the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in 2011.

To read a complete obituary, click here.