Legendary basketball coach dies

<br> <br>(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Legendary basketball coach Abe Lemons died Monday at the age of 79. <br><br>Lemons' wife Betty says the former coach died at his Oklahoma City home after a long illness.

Monday, September 2nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Oklahoma City-AP) -- Legendary basketball coach Abe Lemons died Monday at the age of 79.

Lemons' wife Betty says the former coach died at his Oklahoma City home after a long illness.

Lemons won 599 college basketball games in two coaching stops at Oklahoma City and one each at Texas and Pan-American.

The coach revitalized the basketball program at Texas, going 110-and-63 in six seasons. He won a share of two Southwest Conference titles and had many memorable battles with then Arkansas coach Eddie Sutton.

Lemons grew up in the southwestern Oklahoma town of Walters.

He suffered from Parkinson's disease for several years. His health worsened in July after he fell and broke his hip.