Peach Basket Society: September 2017

Friday, September 22, 2017

Bob Wilson

Robert Wilson

Born:
March 8, 1926
Clarksburg, WV

Died:
August 26, 2014
Newark, NJ

Career
1941-42 Kelly Miller High School - Clarksburg, WV (High School)
1942-43 Kelly Miller High School - Clarksburg, WV (High School)
1943-44 Kelly Miller High School - Clarksburg, WV (High School)
1947-48 West Virginia State University (College)
1948-49 West Virginia State University (College)
1949-50 West Virginia State University (College)
1950-51 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1951-52 Leone's All-Stars - West Virginia (Indepedendent)

Born in the North View section of Clarskburg, West Virginia, Wilson went to Kelly Miller High School in Clarksburg (a "colored" school until the 1956 integration.) After playing at WVSU, he played a year for the Globetrotters before playing with the Milwaukee Hawks,but his NBA career ended with a knee injury. He moved to Newark where he was heavily involved in the city and YMCA.

He and his wife, Josephine Crozier, had four children

Source:
WVSU Website, August 27, 2014
Obituary, West Virginia Gazette, August 26, 2014

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wilsobo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=wilsobo01

Bill Tosheff

William Mark Tosheff

Born:
June 2, 1926
Gary, IN

Died:
October 1, 2011
Kauai, HI

Career
1941-42 Froebel High School - Gary, IN (High School)
1942-43 Froebel High School - Gary, IN (High School)
1943-44 Froebel High School - Gary, IN (High School)
1947-48 Indiana University (College)
1948-49 Indiana University (College)
1949-50 Indiana University (College)
1950-51 Indiana University (College)
1951-52 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1952-53 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

Tosheff lettered in track, football, baseball and basketball at Froebel HS, and set the state record in the long jump. He entered the U.S. Army, serving in the Air Corps during and after World War 2. After his discharge, he enrolled at Indiana University, playing baseball and basketball until graduating in 1951. He was drafted in the 4th round of the NBA draft by Indianapolis, where he would play two seasons, followed by a third with Milwaukee. But it was on the pitcher's mound where Toshoff found his passion.

Tosh signed with the Lafayette Blue Sox in 1952, and one afternoon threw a no-hitter. This impressed Cleveland Indians' scout Red Ruffing enough to get them to offer a contract. Greenberg decline the amount Tosheff wanted, and he signed with the minor league team in Indianapolis. In 1954, he quit basketball for good and signed with the Milwaukee Braves, and started the season with their affiliate in Tampa. Playing with four teams that year in Class B, he won 21 games, and promoted to the Braves' farm club in Corpus Christi in 1955, he won 20 games. However, he could not get higher than AA ball, and in 1958, at 32 years of age, he left for Cuba, where he played baseball as well as rubbing elbows with Fidel Castro and Ernest Hemingway. Playing there, we became close with a young infielder named Mike Ilitch. Ilitch asked Toshoff to came back to Michigan with him and be his partner in business, but Tosh still wanted to play ball and he left for Venezuela. Ilitch would go on with his "business idea" and formed what would become the Little Caesar's Pizza empire.

Tosh would later become better known as the advocate for getting pre-1965 NBA players pension from the league. Many players were down-on-their-luck or destitute when Tosheff stepped on on their behalf, and would continue to fight for them. He was recognized in 2009 at the NBA All-Star game for his efforts.

Tosheff died of rectal cancer in 2011.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=toshef001wil

Source:
Obit, NW Indiana Times
Baseball Happenings, October 2011
20 Second Timeout Blog

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/toshebi01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=toshebi01

Tom Smith

Thomas Francis Xavier Smith

Born:
July 5, 1927
Jersey City, NJ

Died:
May 31, 1996
Jersey City, NJ

Career
1946-47 St. Peter's Prep - Jersey City, NJ (High School)
1948-49 St. Peter's College - New Jersey (College)
1949-50 St. Peter's College - New Jersey (College)
1950-51 St. Peter's College - New Jersey (College)
1951-52 New York Knicks (NBA)
1951-52 Carbondale Aces (ABL)
1951-52 Bridgeport Roesslers (ABL)
1952-53 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Jersey City Titans (Independent)

Born to Edward and Viola Smith,

Tom was drafted by the Knicks in 1951, and signed on October 14, 1951

Smith scored over 1300 points at St Peters, and was drafted by the Knicks in 1951. He only played one game with the Knicks in the regular season, scoring four points.(Not sure which game.)

He served as a city clerk in Jersey City for eight years before running successfully for the city's mayor in 1977, serving his term through 1981 when he ran for governor of New Jersey, but lost in the primaries. Also an author who wrote of his time in politics and the powers of Jersey City, Smith died of cancer in 1996.

He and his wife, Florence, has two daughters.

Source:
Everything You Wanted to Know About the Knicks, Michael Benson
Obituary, New York Times, June 5, 1996

Stats:

http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=smithto01

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Jim Slaughter

James Walker Slaughter

Born:
May 13, 1928
Bristol, TN

Died:
August 2, 1999
Central, SC

Career
1945-46 Jefferson High School - Roanoke, VA (High School)
1946-47 Jefferson High School - Roanoke, VA (High School)
1947-48 University of South Carolina (College)
1948-49 University of South Carolina (College)
1949-50 University of South Carolina (College)
1950-51 University of South Carolina (College)
1951-52 Washington Capitols (ABL)
1951-52 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1951-52 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Born in Bristol, Tennessee, to John and Vera Slaughter, Jim and the family moved to Roanoke around the time of World War 2. He graduated from Jefferson High School and went to South Carolina where he was selected twice All-Southern Conference and also All-American. He left South Carolina in March of his senior year to pursue all-star basketball tours. Slaughter was drafted in the fourth round of the 1951 NBA Draft by the Blackhawks, and the 6'11 center signed with the club on July 19, 1951. The Hawks, having changed their name since moving to Milwaukee in the period since the draft, waived Slaughter on October 29, 1951, before the beginning of the season. He headed to the ABL, signing with the Washington Capitols in early December, 1951. After a little over a month later, after the Capitols folded, he was picked up by the Manchester British Americans, who joined the ABL as a replacement team. I am not sure he got into a game with them, however. He signed a sort time later with the Baltimore Bullets, making his debut on January 19, 1952. In the 50's and 60's, he would still play semi-pro and amateur basketball, but his career was now working at J.P. Stevens.

Source:
Star Gazette, Elmira (NY), January 18, 1952
Obituary, Greenville (SC) News, August 4, 1999

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/slaugji01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=slaugji01

Whitey Skoog

Myer Upton "Whitey" Skoog

Born:
November 2, 1926
Duluth, MN

Died:
April 4, 2019
St. Peter, MN

Career
1942-43 Brainerd High School - Brainerd, MN (High School)
1943-44 Brainerd High School - Brainerd, MN (High School)
1944-45 Jacksonville Naval - Florida (Military)
1948-49 University of Minnesota (College)
1949-50 University of Minnesota (College)
1950-51 University of Minnesota (College)
1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1952-53 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1954-55 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1955-56 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1956-57 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1957-58 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1958-59 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1959-60 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1960-61 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1961-62 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1962-63 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1963-64 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1964-65 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1965-66 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1966-67 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1967-68 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1968-69 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1969-70 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1970-71 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1971-72 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1972-73 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1973-74 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1974-75 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1975-76 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1976-77 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1977-78 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1978-79 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1979-80 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach
1980-81 Gustavus Adolphus College - Saint Peter, MN (College) Head coach

After high school, Skoog entered the U.S. Navy to serve World War 2. It was while in the military his white hair and fair complexion garnered the nickname "Whitey." The war ended, and Skoog was eventually discharged. He went back to Minnesota where he enrolled at the University of Minnesota. A three-time All-American, Skoog wound up being drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in the first round of the 1951 draft and played seven seasons with the Lakers, winning three championships, before a back injury coupled with chronic knee pain forced him to retire. Not done with basketball entirely, though, he was quickly offered a job at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, as the head coach of the basketball team. He stayed on for 24 seasons, and along the way also took over the school's golf program. In 1981, he started his own company called Environmental Recycling Resource, which would collect aluminum cans from various municipalities in nearby South Dakota for recycling. He stopped coach basketball and teaching at this time, but stayed on as the golf coach until finally retiring.

Source:
Gustavus Adolphus Hall of Fame
Brainerd Dispatch, 1971
Argus Leader (Sioux Falls, SD), March 15, 1981

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/skoogwh01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=skoogwh01

Zeke Sinicola

Emilio Joseph "Zeke" Sinicola

Born:
January 25, 1929
New York, NY

Died:
June 6, 2011
Manhattan, NY

Career
1945-46 Benjamin Franklin High School - New York, NY (High School)
1946-47 Benjamin Franklin High School - New York, NY (High School)
1947-48 Niagara University (College)
1948-49 Niagara University (College)
1949-50 Niagara University (College)
1950-51 Niagara University (College)
1951-52 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1954-55 Lenox Merchants (Independent)
1955-56 Trenton Capitols (EBL)
1955-56 Hazleton Hawks (EBL)
1956-57 Scranton Miners (EBL)
1957-58 Williamsport Billies (EBL)
1958-59 Williamsport Billies (EBL)
1958-59 Hazleton Hawks (EBL)
1959-60 Hazleton Hawks (EBL)

After scoring 1188 points at Niagara University, becoming the first player to reach 1000 at the school, Sinicola was a first-round draft pick of the Fort Wayne Pistons in the 1951 draft. He played three games for the Pistons before joining the U.S. Army to serve during the Korean War. Once discharged, he returned briefly to the Pistons. He headed back east with the Trenton Capitols, but was let go when the team fell apart. He signed with the Hazleton Hawks in late January of 1956. After a season with the Scranton Minors, he signed the with Williamsport Billies in 1957. In December of 1958, Williamsport traded him back to Hazleton for Floyd Layne and John Maglio. After hanging up his basketball shoes, Zeke returned to New York City and worked in the city's financial department.

Source:
Obituary, New York Times, June 19, 2011

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sinicze01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=sinicze01

Don Savage

Donald Joseph Savage

Born:
April 9, 1928
Syracuse, NY

Died:
January 27, 2010
Basking Ridge, NJ

Career
1945-46 St. Anthony of Padua - Syracuse, NY (High School)
1946-47 Manlius Military Academy - Syracuse, NY (High School)
1947-48 LeMoyne College - Syracuse, NY (College)
1948-49 LeMoyne College - Syracuse, NY (College)
1949-50 LeMoyne College - Syracuse, NY (College)
1950-51 LeMoyne College - Syracuse, NY (College)
1951-52 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1951-52 Elmira Colonels (ABL)
1952-53 Elmira Colonels (ABL)
1954-55 Parris Island (Military)
1955-56 Parris Island (Military)
1956-57 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)

Savage went to LeMoyne College, and as a freshman was a member of the first basketball team the school had ever fielded. In four years, he racked up over 1600 points and the Dolphins had made it to be ranked in the top ten in small college teams. He went to play with the Nationals, and after being let go, went over to play with Elmira in the ABL for a couple years. He joined the U.S. Marines Corps and served on Parris Island, and after his discharge, he played another year with the Nationals. He moved to New Jersey and worked for many years for USF&G in the insurance industry.

He married Jacqueline McGill and they had two sons and a daughter.

Source:
Lemoyne Dolphins Hall of Fame
Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame
Obituary, Syracuse Post Standard, January 28, 2010

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/savagdo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=savagdo01

John Rennicke

John William Rennicke

Born:
August 11, 1929
Aurora, IL

Died:
December 9, 2007
Perham, MN

Career
1945-46 East Aurora High School - Illinois (High School)
1946-47 East Aurora High School - Illinois (High School)
1947-48 Drake University (College)
1948-49 Drake University (College)
1949-50 Drake University (College)
1950-51 Drake University (College)
1951-52 Elmira Colonels (ABL)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

Rennicke played baseball and basketball at Drake, and after graduating he was signed by the Chicago Cubs and was assigned to their C-level affiliate in Sioux Falls. He was also drafted by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks in the 6th round of the 1951 draft. (The team moved to Milwaukee prior to the start of 1951 season but after the draft.) Rennicke did not make the club, and signed with Elmira in the ABL. He was let go in January, and returned home to Iowa when he got his offer from the Hawks and joined the club on January 30, 1952. He played six games for them before being released. He played another season of minor league baseball, this time with the Cubs' Topeka club.

He married Carla Sheldon (d. 2006) in 1950 and they had two sons.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rennic001joh

Source:
Obituary, Brainerd Dispatch, December 11, 2007

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rennijo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=rennijo01

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Sam Ranzino

Samuel Salvadore Ranzino

Born:
June 23, 1928
Gary, IN

Died:
March 13, 1994
Winnabow, NC

Career
1945-46 Emerson High School - Gary, IN (High School)
1946-47 Emerson High School - Gary, IN (High School)
1947-48 North Carolina State (College)
1948-49 North Carolina State (College)
1949-50 North Carolina State (College)
1950-51 North Carolina State (College)
1951-52 Rochester Royals (NBA)

Starring for four season at NC State, Ranzino is still among the top of the school's all-time field goal totals. He played for one season with the Rochester Royals. He died in 1994 at 66 years of age.

He married Ann Brigman (1932-1983) and they had one son and one daughter.

Source:
Obituary, Ashville Citizen-Times, March 16, 1994

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/ranzisa01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=ranzisa01

Ray Ragelis

Raymond Ernest Ragelis

Born:
December 10, 1928
East Chicago, IN

Died:
September 19, 1983
Chicago, IL

Career
1944-45 Washington High School - East Chicago, IN (High School)
1945-46 Washington High School - East Chicago, IN (High School)
1946-47 Washington High School - East Chicago, IN (High School)
1948-49 Northwestern University (College)
1949-50 Northwestern University (College)
1950-51 Northwestern University (College)
1951-52 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1954-55 Lake Forest College (College) Head coach

Ragelis lettered in basketball, football and baseball at Washington HS in East Chicago, and then went on to play at Northwestern. Playing center despite his 6'4 height, Ragelis lead the Big 10 in scoring in his senior season. After playing for the Rochester Royals, Ragelis served in the U.S. Army for two years. Once out the army, he worked as a teacher, coach and ironworker. He was only 54 years old when he died in 1983.

Source:
Obituary, Chicago Tribune, September 23, 1983

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/ragelra01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=ragelra01

Mel Payton

Melvin Eugene Payton

Born:
July 16, 1926
Martinsville, IN

Died:
May 12, 2001
Carmel, IN

Career
1942-43 Martinsville High School - Indiana (High School)
1943-44 Martinsville High School - Indiana (High School)
1947-48 Tulane University (College)
1948-49 Tulane University (College)
1949-50 Tulane University (College)
1950-51 Tulane University (College)
1951-52 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1952-53 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1954-55 Burlington High School - Kokomo, IN (High School) Head coach
1954-55 McCool Insurance Mercury - Kokomo, IN (Independent)
1955-56 Western High School - Kokomo, IN (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Western High School - Kokomo, IN (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Lebanon High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Lebanon High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Whiteland High School - Indiana (High School) Assistant coach
1960-61 Whiteland High School - Indiana (High School) Assistant coach
1961-62 Whiteland High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Whiteland High School - Indiana (High School) Head coach

Born to Clint and Marry Payton in Martinsville, Indiana, Payton graduated from Martinsville HS and went into the U.S. Army for World War 2. The war ended, and eventually Payton was discharged and went to Tulane University in Louisiana. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1951, and played for them for one season. On September 11, 1952, Payton was traded to Indianapolis for Don Lofgran. He left playing basketball to coach it at various high schools in Indiana. Also teaching, he eventually moved down to the junior high level.

Source:

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/paytome01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=paytome01

Dave Minor

Davage T. "Dave" Minor

Born:
February 23, 1922
Ruleville, MS

Died:
March 14, 1998
Gary, IN

Career
1939-40 Froebel High School - Gary, IN (High School)
1940-41 Froebel High School - Gary, IN (High School)
1942-43 University of Toledo (College)
1946-47 UCLA (College)
1947-48 UCLA (College)
1948-49 Oakland Biitners (Independent)
1949-50 Oakland Biitners (Independent)
1951-52 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

After playing at the University of Toledo, helping the Rockets to the NIT title in 1943. He then entered the U.S. Army and served during World War 2. After the war, he transferred to UCLA and played pro basketball with the Oakland Biitners before being signed by the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA. He played the next season with the Milwaukee Hawks.

Davage married Ollie Mae Carter and they had at least one daughter.

Source:

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/minorda01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=minorda01

Al McGuire

Alfred Emanuel McGuire

Born:
September 7, 1928
Queens, NY

Died:
January 26, 2001
Milwaukee, WI

Career
1945-46 St. John's Prep - Brooklyn, NY (High School)
1946-47 St. John's Prep - Brooklyn, NY (High School)
1947-48 St. John's University (College)
1948-49 St. John's University (College)
1949-50 St. John's University (College)
1950-51 St. John's University (College)
1951-52 New York Knicks (NBA)
1952-53 New York Knicks (NBA)
1953-54 New York Knicks (NBA)
1954-55 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1955-56 Dartmouth College (College) Assistant coach
1956-57 Dartmouth College (College) Assistant coach
1957-58 Belmont Abbey College (College) Head coach
1958-59 Belmont Abbey College (College) Head coach
1959-60 Belmont Abbey College (College) Head coach
1960-61 Belmont Abbey College (College) Head coach
1961-62 Belmont Abbey College (College) Head coach
1962-63 Belmont Abbey College (College) Head coach
1963-64 Belmont Abbey College (College) Head coach
1964-65 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1965-66 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1966-67 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1967-68 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1968-69 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1969-70 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1970-71 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1971-72 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1972-73 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1973-74 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1974-75 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1975-76 Marquette University (College) Head coach
1976-77 Marquette University (College) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1992

McGuire, younger brother of another pro basketball player, Dick McGuire, played football and basketball at St. John's Prep before heading to St. John's University to play basketball. In September of 1949, McGuire, heading into his sophomore season, left the team as his grades had fallen. He managed to get them back up and had his eligibility restored in November. After graduating at St. John's, he played three season with the Knicks and one with the Baltimore Bullets before deciding that coaching was his calling. He was an assistant at Dartmouth for two years before being hired to be the head coach at Belmont in North Carolina. After a 109-63 record in seven years at Belmont, he was hired to coach the basketball team at Marquette University in 1964.
While at Marquette, McGuire lead the team to a NIT championship in 1970 and an appearance in the Final Four in 1974. In December of 1976, McGuire announced that he would be leaving Marquette after the season. He then lead the Golden Eagles to the NCAA title, before leaving retiring from basketball to become a vice-chairman of Medalist Industries. After leaving the company in 1978, he worked as a broadcaster and analyst. He was elected to the Naismaith Hall of Fame in 1992, and died in 2001 after suffering from leukemia.

Source:
knickerblogger.net - Al McGuire's Phantom Bucket
Obituary, NY Times, January 27, 2001

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcguial01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mcguial01

In memoriam: Phil Moore

Former Tulsa Ranchers (PBLA) player Phil Moore died last July.

I was fortunate enough to correspond with him last February. He made me laugh when he said he had just turned 96 and was "still in good health - but expect anything at my age."

Biography

Obituary from Frank Funeral Home

Philip Dale Moore, age 96, lifelong resident of Wellington, passed away at his home on Friday, July 7, 2017. He was a retired insurance agent for New York Life.

Phil was born on November 9, 1920 in Wellington, KS to Clyde F. Moore and Nora M. (Braun) Moore. He was a graduate of Wellington High School and Southwestern College. He served in the Army Air Corp during World War II from 1942 – 1945.
He married Rheba M. Helm on September 5, 1940 in Newkirk, OK. She preceded him in death on July 5, 2008.
Phil enjoyed fishing and traveling in the RV with Rheba.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rheba; son, J. Brandon Moore; four brothers; and three sisters.
Survivors include his children Mindy Byington of Park Hills, MO and Tim Robertson and his wife Sharron of Peabody, KS; four grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

John McConathy

John R. "Hound" McConathy

Born:
April 9, 1930
Sailes LA

Died:
April 19, 2016
Bossier City, LA

Career
1945-46 Bryceland High School - Louisiana (High School)
1946-47 Bryceland High School - Louisiana (High School)
1947-48 Northwest State University - Louisiana (College)
1948-49 Northwest State University - Louisiana (College)
1949-50 Northwest State University - Louisiana (College)
1950-51 Northwest State University - Louisiana (College)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1953-54 Gibsland High School - Louisiana (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Gibsland High School - Louisiana (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Bossier City High School - Louisiana (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Bossier City High School - Louisiana (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Bossier City High School - Louisiana (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Bossier City High School - Louisiana (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Bossier City High School - Louisiana (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Bossier City High School - Louisiana (High School) Head coach

He was but a walk-on at Northwest State in his freshman year, but was named All-American in his senior year. Drafted by the Syracuse Nationals, he would be sent to play with the Milwaukee Hawks for the 1951-52 season prior to the starting of the season. He returned to Louisiana after one season to teach and coach at Gibsland HS and Bossier City HS. He eventually left coaching to became an adminstrator, and eventually became superintendent. After retiring from the school district, he started his own successful insurance company. He stayed visible in the Bossier City community for years, and was a fixture at NSU games before his death in 2016.

He and his wife, Corene, married in 1955 and they had one daughter and three sons.

Source:
NSUDemons.com, April 19, 2016
Shreveport Times, April 19, 2016
Obituary, Shreveport Times, April 21, 2016
Bossier Press, April 19, 2016

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mcconjo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mcconjo01

George King

George Smith King, Jr.

Born:
August 16, 1928
Charleston, WV

Died:
October 5, 2006
Naples, FL

Career
1944-45 Stonewall Jackson High School - Charleston, WV (High School)
1945-46 Stonewall Jackson High School - Charleston, WV (High School)
1947-48 Morris Harvey College - West Virginia (College)
1948-49 Morris Harvey College - West Virginia (College)
1949-50 Morris Harvey College - West Virginia (College)
1950-51 Phillips 66'ers (Independent/AAU)
1951-52 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1952-53 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1953-54 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1954-55 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1955-56 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1956-57 Morris Harvey College - West Virginia (College) Head coach
1957-58 Cincinnati Royals (NBA)
1958-59 West Virginia University (College) Assistant coach
1959-60 West Virginia University (College) Assistant coach
1960-61 West Virginia University (College) Head coach
1961-62 West Virginia University (College) Head coach
1962-63 West Virginia University (College) Head coach
1963-64 West Virginia University (College) Head coach
1964-65 West Virginia University (College) Head coach
1965-66 Purdue University (College) Head coach
1966-67 Purdue University (College) Head coach
1967-68 Purdue University (College) Head coach
1968-69 Purdue University (College) Head coach
1969-70 Purdue University (College) Head coach
1970-71 Purdue University (College) Head coach
1971-72 Purdue University (College) Head coach

King was an All-American at Morris Harvey College (now the University of Charleston), and was drafted by the Chicago Stags in the 1950 NBA Draft, but the Stags folded before the season began. He played for the Phillips's 66ers independent team before signing with the Syracuse Nationals for the next season. He spent five seasons with the Naitonals and then took the head coaching job back at Morris Harvey. After one season, he returned to the NBA, playing with the Cincinnati Royal in 1957-58. He took an assistant coaching job at West Virginia in 1958 and quit playing for good. After two seasons as assistant, he was promoted to the head coach job. He had a 102-43 record in five seasons there, and then moved over to Purdue, leading Purdue to their first Big Ten title in 29 years. After the 1971-72 season, he was named the the school's Athletic Director, a job he held until retiring in 1992.

He and his wife, Jeanne, had two sons and three daughters.

Source:
Obituary

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kingge01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=kingge01

Jack Kiley

John Francis Kiley, Jr.

Born:
January 5, 1929
Irvington, NJ

Died:
February 16, 1982
Baltimore, MD

Career
1945-46 Seton Hall Prep - South Orange, NJ (High School)
1946-47 Seton Hall Prep - South Orange, NJ (High School)
1948-49 Syracuse University (College)
1949-50 Syracuse University (College)
1950-51 Syracuse University (College)
1951-52 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)

Born in Irvington, New Jersey, Kiley grew up in Newark before going to Seton Hall Prep. He went on to play basketball at Syracuse, scoring just under 1200 points, and was a second round draft pick of the Fort Wayne Pistons.

He later worked for many years as a sales rep for the BBL Division of Becton Industries, Bristoil Laboratories and Johnson and Johnson. He died in 1982 following a lengthy illness.

He married Jane Pfaff and they had two sons and a daughter.

Source:
Obituary, Baltimore Sun, February 18, 1982

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kileyja01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=kileyja01

Neil Johnston

Donald Neil Johnston

Born:
February 4, 1929
Chillicothe, OH

Died:
September 28, 1978
Irving, TX

Career
1944-45 Chillicothe High School - Ohio (High School)
1945-46 Chillicothe High School - Ohio (High School)
1946-47 Ohio State University (College)
1947-48 Ohio State University (College)
1948-49 Columbus Mariners - Ohio (Independent)
1948-49 Gerber's Lustrons - Chillicothe, OH (Independent)
1949-50 Gerling Builders - Chillicothe, OH (Independent)
1949-50 Agonis Club - Newark, OH (Independent)
1950-51 Agonis Club - Newark, OH (Independent)
1951-52 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1951-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1951-54 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1951-55 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1951-56 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1951-57 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1951-58 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1958-59 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1959-60 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA) Head coach
1960-61 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA) Head coach
1961-62 Pittsburgh Rens (ABL) Head coach / player
1962-63 Pittsburgh Rens (ABL) Head coach
1964-65 Wilmington Blue Bombers (EBL) Head coach
1965-66 Wilmington Blue Bombers (EBL) Head coach
1966-67 Wake Forest (College) Assistant coach
1967-68 Wake Forest (College) Assistant coach
1968-69 Wake Forest (College) Assistant coach
1969-70 Wake Forest (College) Assistant coach
1970-71 Wake Forest (College) Assistant coach
1971-72 Wake Forest (College) Assistant coach
1972-73 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Assistant coach
1973-74 Portland Trailblazers (NBA) Assistant coach
1976-77 Chemetka Community College - Salem, OR (College) Head coach

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 1990

Johnston played both baseball and basketball at Chillicothe HS and then at Ohio State. He left school early to pursue baseball, pitching in the Philles farm system from 1949-1951. After pitching for Wilmington in the Interstate (B) League in 1951, his manager Jim Ward helped him get a tryout with the Philadelphia Warriors. He made the team, and never looked back to the mound. Blessed with a sweet hook shot, Johnston played 8 seasons with the Warriors, leading the league in shooting percentage multiple times and also in rebounded. (He also got a Masters Degree at Temple during this time.) In 1959, he severely injured his knee and moved from the court to the bench, coaching the Warriors for 2 seasons. He moved over the the Pittsburgh Rens of the new ABL in 1961, and was a player / coach. He quite playing but stayed on the bench in the next season, and the ABL folded after the 62-63 season. After a year off, Johnston coached Wilmington in the Eastern League for a couple seasons before Jack McCloskey hired him as his assistant at Wake Forest. Six years later, McCloskey left for the NBA, and Johnston was not hired by Wake to replace him, and instead fired him. McCloskey brought him on board at Portland. They were both fired after two seasons there. Johnston took a job with the BBB in Portland before returning to basketball in 1976 as the head coach at Chemetka CC in Salem, Oregon. After one season there, he was offered the Athletic Director job at North Lake Community College in Irving Texas in the summer of 1977.

On one warm September day in 1978, Johnston was playing basketball with some friends and family when he collapsed. The heart attack he was suffering would prove to be fatal. He was only 49 years old. He was posthumously elected to the National Basketball Hall of Fame in 1990.

Neil married Phyllis Wilson (1931-1980) and they had two sons and three daughters.

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=johnst001don

Source:
News Journal (Wilmington, DE), January 13, 1966
News Journal (Wilmington, DE), April 6, 1972
Obituary, Statesman Journal (Salem, OR), September 29, 1978

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/johnsne01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=johnsne01

Mel Hutchins

Melvin Ray Hutchins

Born:
November 22, 1928
Sacramento, CA

Died:
December 19, 2018
Encinitas, CA

Career
1945-46 Monrovia High School - California (High School)
1946-47 Monrovia High School - California (High School)
1947-48 Brigham Young University (College)
1948-49 Brigham Young University (College)
1949-50 Brigham Young University (College)
1950-51 Brigham Young University (College)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1955-56 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1956-57 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1957-58 New York Knicks (NBA)

After a stellar career at BYU, Hutchins was the second pick overall in the 1951 draft, selected by Tri-Cities (who would announce their move to Milwaukee weeks later.) Hutchins would lead the NBA in rebounding in his rookie year, a feat only accomplished by one other player, Wilt Chamberlain. In 1953, the Hawks sold him to the Pistons, and in his four seasons there the Pistons made it to the NBA Finals twice. After the 1957 season, we has traded along with Charlie Tyra to the New York Knicks for Dick Atha, Nat Clifton and Harry Gallatin. His career ended following a serious knee injury in 1958.

His sister, Colleen, was named Miss America in 1952. She married fellow pro basketball player Ernie Vandeweghe and their son (Mel's nephew) Kiki also played in the NBA.

Source:

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hutchme01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=hutchme01

Lew Hitch

Lewis Rufus Hitch

Born:
July 16, 1929
Griggsville, IL

Died:
February 8, 2012
Wamego, KS

Career
1945-46 Griggsville High School - Illinois (High School)
1946-47 Griggsville High School - Illinois (High School)
1947-48 Culver-Stockton College - Missouri (College)
1948-49 Kansas State University (College)
1949-50 Kansas State University (College)
1950-51 Kansas State University (College)
1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1952-53 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1954-55 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1954-55 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1955-56 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1956-57 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1956-57 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1957-58 Ellis High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Ellis High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1959-60 Ellis High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1960-61 Ellis High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1961-62 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1962-63 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1963-64 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1964-65 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1965-66 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach
1966-67 Wichita Heights High School - Kansas (High School) Head coach

Born to Rufus and Maurine Hitch, Lew went to Griggsville HS before being awarded a basketball scholarship at Culver-Stockton Junior College. After a year there, he transferred to Kansas State, playing three years.Graduating from KSU, Hitch was a second-round draft pick of the Lakers, where he won two NBA championships in his two years there before being sold to the Hawks in October of 1953.He played with the Hawks until February 15, 1955, when he was traded back to the Lakers in exchange for Bobby Watson and the rights to unsigned players Carl McNulty and Dick Rutherford. He played two more seasons the the Lakers until May of 1956 when he was traded to the Rochester Royals for the draft rights of Bob McKeen. In January of 1957, he was sold to the Philadelphia Warriors. He finished the year with the Warriors and then retired from playing.

His basketball career done, Hitch moved to Ellis, Kansas, and then on to Wichita to teach and coach high school basketball. He moved to Westmoreland, Kansas, in 1971, and eventually became a superintendent until retiring in 1990. Hitch died on 2012 following a long illness.

He married Danna Jean Foltz (d. 2004) in 1953 and they had three sons.

Source:
Chicago Tribune, February 17, 1955
Family Tree
Obituary

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/h/hitchle01.html
www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=hitchle01

Monday, September 18, 2017

Jake Fendley

John Phillip "Jake" Fendley

Born:
June 12, 1929
Danville, IL

Died:
August 9, 2002
Oak Park, IL

Career
1943-44 South Shore High School - Chicago, IL (High School)
1944-45 South Shore High School - Chicago, IL (High School)
1945-46 South Shore High School - Chicago, IL (High School)
1946-47 South Shore High School - Chicago, IL (High School)
1948-49 Northwestern University (College)
1949-50 Northwestern University (College)
1950-51 Northwestern University (College)
1951-52 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)

After starring at Shore HS and Northwestern, Fendley was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1951. After two seasons, he left the Pistons tw raise a family, and began working ABC-TV in Chicago. Working in advertising, we would eventually move to McCall's, and then to WGN where he was promoted to the position of Sports Sales Director.

He and his wife, Pat, had two sons and two daughters.

Source:
Obituary, Chicago Tribune, August 13, 2002

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/fendlja01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=fendlja01

Elmer Behnke

Elmer Herman Behnke

Born:
February 3, 1929
Elgin, IL

Died:
May 25, 2018
Hoover, AL ??

Career
1945-46 Marengo High School - Illinois (High School)
1946-47 Marengo High School - Illinois (High School)
1947-48 Bradley University (College)
1948-49 Bradley University (College)
1949-50 Bradley University (College)
1950-51 Bradley University (College)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

Born in Elgin to Elmer and Erna Behnke, Elmer played basketball at Bradley, where the team made it to the NCAA championship game, losing to CCNY in 1950. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Rochester Royals, but was released and signed by the Hawks. After four games, Behnke was let go in November of 1951. He took employment at Caterpillar Tractor and worked for Thompson Tractor for 34 years until retiring.

He married was married to Mildred Golden and they had one daughter.

Source:
Marengo Republican-News, May 14, 1953

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/behnkel01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=behnkel01

Don Barksdale

Donald Argee Barksdale

Born:
March 31, 1923
Oakland, CA

Died:
March 8, 1993
Oakland, CA

Career
1940-41 Marin Junior College - California (College)
1941-42 Marin Junior College - California (College)
1942-43 UCLA (College)
1944-45 Camp Ross (Military)
1945-46 Camp Ross (Military)
1946-47 UCLA (College)
1947-48 Oakland Bittners (ABL-AAU)
1948 United States National Team (Olympics)
1948-49 Oakland Biitners (Independent)
1949-50 Oakland Blue and Gold Nuggets (Independent)
1951-52 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1952-53 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1953-54 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1954-55 Boston Celtics (NBA)

NATIONAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME, 2012

Born in Oakland, Barksdale went to Berkeley High School but was cut from the basketball team every year there (some people say he wasn't skilled enough, others say it was because he was black.) Undeterred, he went to Marin JC and made the team, and after two years there he transferred to UCLA. After one year there, he went into the U.S. Army to serve during World War 2. After his service, he went back to UCLA, where he was an All-American in 1946-47. He started playing independent basketball after leaving UCLA, and eventually was selected to play on the 1948 Olympic team. After helping the team to the gold medal, he returned to Oakland to play on various indy and AAU teams. In 1951, he was signed by the Baltimore Bullets, becoming the fourth black player inthe NBA. Two years later, Barksdale joined the Boston Celtics but after two years, his career was cut short with chronic ankle problems. He worked in radio for many years, and was also a key figure in the Oakland schools for his fundraising to save Oakland athletic programs. Barskdale died of throat cancer in 1993, and was posthumously elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2012.

Source:
Obituary, New York Times, March 11, 1993

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barksdo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=barksdo01

1951-52 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)

1951-52 SYRACUSE NATIONALS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Eastern Division
Finished: 40-26 .606, 1st place

Division Semifinals - Defeated Philadelphia, 2-1
Division Finals - Lost to New York, 3-1

Head Coach: Al Cervi (February 12, 1917 - November 9, 2009) also played, see below

PLAYERS:

Gerry Calabrese (February 4, 1925 - April 13, 2015)