Lonnie Eggleston

Lonnie J. "Leon" Eggleston


Born:
June 8, 1918
Dodd City, TX

Died:
July 10, 1998
Oklahoma City, OK


Career
Walters High School - Oklahoma (High School)
1939-40 Oklahoma A&M (College) - now Oklahoma State University
1940-41 Oklahoma A&M (College) - now Oklahoma State University
1941-42 Oklahoma A&M (College) - now Oklahoma State University
1942-43 Corpus Christi Naval Base (Military)
1945-46 Phillips 66ers - Bartlesville (AAU/ABL)
1946-47 Phillips 66ers - Bartlesville (AAU/ABL)
1947-48 Oklahoma City Drillers (PBLA)
1948-49 St Louis Bombers (BAA)
1969-70 Fort Sill Cannoneers (Military) Head coach

Born to Walter and Alice Elleston in Texas,
Eggleston pilot B17's during World War 2, being involved in bombing raids over Iwo Jima. On his 30th mission, his plane took heavy damage. Heading toward the ocean, his crew jettisoned whatever they could to lighten the plane. Eggleston was eventually able to pilot the lightened plane back to the Marianas Islands. His brother, Troy, was killed in Germany in 1944.
He played basketball for a few years after the war. He returned to the military, and stayed there 22 years before retiring.

Source:
Mount Carmel (Pennsylvania) Iron, March 8, 1945

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/egglelo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=egglelo01