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A RESOLUTION adjourning the Senate in honor and loving memory and honor of 1
former Cincinnati Reds pitcher and Kentucky native Don Gullett. 2
WHEREAS, Donald Edward Gullett was born on January 6, 1951, in Lynn, 3
Kentucky, the son of the late Buford and Lettie Brown Gullett; and 4
WHEREAS, Don Gullett was a 1969 graduate of McKell High School, where he 5
was one of the finest prep athletes in the history of the Commonwealth. His 72 points set 6
the state record for most points scored in a high school football game, and he was named 7
to the All-State teams in football, basketball, and baseball; and 8
WHEREAS, Don Gullett was drafted in the first round of the 1969 Major League 9
Baseball draft by the Cincinnati Reds as the 14th pick overall; and 10
WHEREAS, after spending the 1969 season with the Reds' Class A minor league 11
team, Don Gullett made the leap to the major leagues at the age of 19 as a relief pitcher 12
on a squad that won the National League pennant and lost in the World Series to the 13
Baltimore Orioles; and 14
WHEREAS, from 1971 to 1976, Don Gullett was the ace of Cincinnati's vaunted 15
"Big Red Machine," compiling a record of 86 wins against 46 losses, as the Reds won the 16
National League pennant in 1972, 1975, and 1976, and back-to-back World Series titles 17
in 1975 and 1976; and 18
WHEREAS, after the 1976 season, Don Gullett signed a free agent contract with 19
the New York Yankees and compiled a record of 14-4 in helping to lead the Yankees to 20
their victory in the 1977 World Series; and 21
WHEREAS, Don Gullett was also a member of the Yankees when they won the 22
1978 World Series, making him the only player in baseball history who was a member of 23
the World Series champions in four consecutive years while playing for different teams; 24
and 25
WHEREAS, Don Gullett was forced to retire due to a shoulder injury after the 1978 26
season. In just nine major league seasons, he compiled a record 109-50 with an earned 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2082
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run average of 3.11; and 1
WHEREAS, after retirement, Don Gullett came home to his farm in Greenup 2
County, and later worked for the Reds as a minor league instructor and bullpen coach; 3
and was the pitching coach for the Reds from 1993 to 2005; and 4
WHEREAS, Don Gullett was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame in 5
2002; and 6
WHEREAS, Don Gullett left these earthly bounds on February 14, 2024, and is 7
survived by his wife and best friend of 54 years, Cathy Holcomb Gullett; son, Donald 8
(Melissa) Gullett, Jr.; daughters Tracey Rapp and Angie (Mark) Defoe; brother Bill 9
Gullett; sisters Faye Pence, Bessie Claxson and Debbie Leadingham; five grandchildren, 10
Abbey, Connor, Mya, Ava, and Lincoln; and a host of other family and friends who will 11
miss him terribly and cherish his memory; and 12
WHEREAS, in addition to his parents, Don Gullett was preceded in death by his 13
brother, Jack Gullett; and sisters, Joyce Stevens and Betty Coomer; and 14
WHEREAS, Don Gullett's passing will be felt deeply by his family and friends, and 15
he is mourned across the length and breadth of the Commonwealth; 16
NOW, THEREFORE, 17
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 18
Kentucky: 19
Section 1. The members of the Senate join Senator Robin Webb in celebrating 20
the life and accomplishments of Don Gullett, and join his family and friends in mourning 21
his passing. 22
Section 2. When the Senate adjourns this day, it does so in honor and loving 23
memory of Don Gullett. 24
Section 3. The Clerk of the Senate shall forward a copy of this Resolution to 25
Senator Robin Webb for presentation to the Gullett family. 26