Hardworking, dedicated, passionate might be three of the best words to describe Abe Padilla – former Georgetown College cross country and track and field coach. He started to guide the Tiger harriers in 1996. From there he helped the athletic department grow as he was able to restart the GC track and field program in 2005. 

"He's one of the best men I've met in my life," said GC softball coach and former office mate Thomas Thornton. "We shared an office when I was first hired here and everything he did was for the GC student-athletes on his team." 

Friday morning was a tragic and now a sad one for so many in the Georgetown Tiger family as well as Scott County community as Padilla was killed in an accident as he walked along US 421 near US 460 and Schenkel Lane in Frankfort. He was 72. 

Padilla, a long-time worker at Toyota, picked up the coaching position as a passion to guide the coming generations in the sport and art of running.