Monty Justice was a long time member of Crescent Hill and coached many of the youth here in basketball and softball. He later moved his membership to Hurstborne Baptist Church but continued to sing at Crescent Hill with the Singing Seniors until a year before he died Feb 6, 2012 at age 84. Bill Johnson gave the eulogy at his funeral which many Crescent Hill members attended. It's not surprising that Jennifer Lawrence would have counted him as one of her role models, and in spirit Monty was in the audience Sunday night applauding her achievement. -jwa

WDRB news story about Jennifer Lawrence's remembering Monty Justice

Transcript: LOUISVILLE, KY. (WDRB) -- It's the talk of the town -- Jennifer Lawrence's Oscar win Sunday night. One woman whose late husband coached her years ago in the Upward Basketball program says she can speak to the 22-year-old actress' humility.

Becky Justice says Lawrence wrote a letter to her husband Monty, who died last year, thanking him for his guidance and inspiring her to follow her dreams.

Monty died a month before then, but she says she was touched to know the actress remembered her Louisville roots.

"She had achieved some fame," Justice said, "and to think she took some time to thank someone that had helped her back when she was in the fourth grade, I am just so grateful now for this opportunity to say 'thank you' to her."

This was the actress' first Oscar, but second nomination. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Winter's Bone last year.