Dillard Crocker

James Dillard Crocker


Born:
January 19, 1925
Coffee County, TN

Died:
September 1, 2014
Niles, MI


Career
1940-41 Niles High School - Michigan (High School)
1941-42 Niles High School - Michigan (High School)
1942-43 Niles High School - Michigan (High School)
1945-46 Niles American Legion (amateur)
1947-48 Western Michigan University (College)
1947-48 Benton Harbor Naval Armory (military)
1948-49 Fort Wayne Pistons (BAA)
1948-49 Detroit Vagabond Kings (NBL)
1948-49 Anderson Duffey Packers (NBL)
1949-50 Denver Nuggets (NBA)
1950-51 Denver Refiners (NPBL)
1950-51 Anderson Packers (NPBL)
1951-52 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1953-54 House of David (Independent)
1954-55 House of David (Independent)

Born in Tennessee to John and Sarah Crocker, Dillard's family moved to Niles, Michigan, when he was young. He lead Niles High School to the state basketball championship in 1943, and enlisted in the army after graduating. He enrolled at Western Michigan after the war, and after school, played professional basketball for five years. After his playing days, he owned and operated Crocker Sheet Metal Shop in Niles. I haven't found anything saying he actually played basketball at the collegiate level (Western Michigan or otherwise).

He married Dorothy Beck (d. 2002) on April 28, 1944. He and "Dot" had two sons and two daughters.

Source:
Obituary

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/c/crockja01n.html
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/crockdi01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=crockdi01