Leo Klier

Leo Anthony Klier


Born:
May 21, 1923
Washington, IN

Died:
June 4, 2005
Naperville, IL


Career

1938-39 Washington High School - Indiana (High School)
1941-40 Washington High School - Indiana (High School)
1942-43 Notre Dame (College)
1943-44 Notre Dame (College)
1945-46 Notre Dame (College)
1946-47 Indianapolis Kautskys (NBL)
1947-48 Indianapolis Kautskys (NBL)
1948-49 Fort Wayne Pistons (BAA)
1949-50 Fort Wayne Pistons (BAA)
1950-51 Anderson Packers (NPBL) - Player / Head Coach

Klier set the single-season scoring record for Notre Dame in the 1943-44 season, but missed the next season as he was serving his country in the U.S. Navy. He returnd in 1945-46 for his senior year and topped his previous scoring record, and was on the college All-Star team that defeated the NBL All-Star squad in an exhbition game. A pioneer of the one-handed set shot, Leo went on to play for Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, before being named head coach as well as playing for Anderson in the short-lived NPBL. He also worked in the off-season as a lifeguard at the Broadmoor Country Club in Indianapolis, before being sold to Fort Wayne in July of 1948. He began working for Amoco Oil as a salesman in 1952, and remained there until his retirement in 1979. In retirement, he owned and operated a service station in Evergreen Park, Illinois. Leo died in 2005.

He was married to Nancy in 1946 and they had nine children; Peggy, Marianne, Michael, Janet, Martha, Kevin, Carol, Daniel and Timothy.

Source:
Indianapolis Star, July 12, 1948
Obituary (Chicago Daily Herald, June 7, 2005)

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/k/klierle01n.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/klierle01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=klierle01