Kentucky Wildcat greats Ralph Beard and Tommy Kron passed away Thursday.

Beard passed away Thursday morning in his home in Louisville, Ky. After a series of illnesses in recent years, Beard died from heart failure. Kron died Thursday afternoon, also in Louisville, following a battle with cancer.

?I?ve heard so many great things about both Ralph and Tommy,? Head Coach Billy Gillispie said. ?It?s a sad day because we?ve lost two valued members of our basketball family. Both men did a lot to build the tradition of Kentucky basketball, and both meant a great deal to the University of Kentucky and to this state. Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones.?

?Ralph was without question one of the greatest to ever wear the Kentucky uniform, and Tommy remained one of the most popular Wildcats on one of the most popular UK teams,? Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart said. ?The commonwealth of Kentucky lost two special people today.?

Beard (1946-49) was UK?s only three-time, consensus first-team All-American, earning the honor in 1947, 1948 and 1949. A member of Kentucky?s 1948 Olympic Gold medal winning team, Beard received the highest honor a Wildcat basketball player can receive when his jersey was retired in the rafters of Rupp Arena.

The Louisville, Ky., native led the Wildcats to back-to-back national championships (1948 and 1949) and finished his career with 1,517 points, currently 14th on Kentucky?s all-time scoring list.

Also a member of Adolph Rupp?s ?Fabulous Five? in 1948, Beard was a four-time first team All-SEC performer and was named to the SEC All-Tournament all four years as well. Following his senior season, Beard was selected in the second round of the 1949 NBA Draft by the Chicago Stags.

Kron was a starter on Rupp?s Runts, one of Kentucky?s most popular teams that reached the NCAA national championship game despite not having a starter taller than 6-5. Kron (1964-66) helped lead the Wildcats to a national runner-up finish in 1966 and SEC Championships in 1964 and 1966.

A two-time All-SEC performer, Kron was drafted in the third round (24th overall) of the 1966 NBA Draft by the St. Louis Hawks. He played three seasons in the NBA and one in the ABA. Kron, 64, was a native of Tell City, Ind., but resided in Louisville.