Elmo Morgenthaler

Elmore Robert Morgenthaler


Born:
August 3, 1922
Otto, TX

Died:
November 25, 1997
Marlin, TX


Career
Hobbs High School - New Mexico (High School)
1945-46 New Mexico Institute of Mines (College)
1946-47 Boston College (College)
1946-47 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1947-48 Birmingham Skyhawks (PBLA)
1947-48 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1948-49 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA)
1948-49 Philadelphia SPHA's (ABL)
1949-50 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1949-50 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1950-51 Grand Rapids Hornets (NPBL)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1950-51 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1951-52 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL) Head coach / player

At 7'1, Elmo was on of the tallest players in the pro game and was the first 7-foot player in the NBA/BAA. He worked the railways in the Southwest during World War 2 (being too tall to serve in the military) and he transferred from NMI to Boston College. He left BC to play the game professionally, which he did for seven years

He, like many of other his fellow players, lived their lives in poverty, fighting for a pension from the NBA which never came, or came too late. Morgenthaler was the poster child of the cause, with his plight being described in articles across the country in 1996.

Elmo died of pneumonia in 1997.

He was married to Helen.

Source:
Los Angeles Times, October 28, 1996
Criswell Cemetary

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/morgeel01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=morgeel01