Elliot Igleheart

He is survived by his wife, Betty Rees Igleheart of Tallahassee and his brother, Ted L. Igleheart (wife Libby) of Shelbyville, KY.

He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Hayden and Gladys Houtchens Igleheart and his brothers, Dr. J. Hayden Igleheart of Greenwood, SC, Willard Igleheart, and Julian Igleheart.

A star football player, English literature scholar and professor, and expert on Indian artifacts, Elliott Igleheart was born in Elizabethtown in July 28, 1925, the second son of J. Hayden and Gladys Houtchens Igleheart, who moved to Shelbyville in 1927 and reared five boys. Elliott was graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1942 as an All-State fullback. He attended Tulane University on a football scholarship and earned recognition as an All SEC guard. Graduating with a BA and Masters in English, he was hired at Centre College as an English professor and line coach in football from 1947 - 1950. Igleheart married the former Betty Rees of Mason County, KY, and both then acquired masters degrees in 1952 from Gallaudet University in Washington, DC. After U.S. military service at Letterman Army Hospital in San Francisco, CA, Elliott joined his wife to pursue a lifelong career teaching the deaf. Betty taught at the elementary level, while Elliott coached football and inspired countless students in his English and college preparatory classes. Professor Igleheart was awarded the Centennial National Teacher of the Year at the 100th Anniversary Celebration at Gallaudet University. Elliott and Betty retired from the Austine School for the Deaf in Brattleboro, VT in 1990 after more than 38 years of teaching. Elliott was an avid wood-carver, writer, and scholar of Indian artifacts. His article “Kentucky Projectile Points, Clear Creek, Shelby County” published in the KY Historical Society Register in 1970, is widely used to identify and date Indian artifacts discovered in Kentucky and the Ohio Valley. Elliott and Betty donated his extensive collection of arrow points and other Indian artifacts, dating to prehistoric times, to the Shelby County Historical Society where it is displayed in the Heritage Center Museum.

Memorials may be sent to the Centre Congregational Church in Brattleboro, VT.