Pete Jordan

Maurice Cammack "Pete" Jordan


Born:
July 17, 1913
Fountain City, IN

Died:
March 5, 1992
Richmond, IN


Career
1932-33 Fountain City High School (High School)
1934-35 Earlham College - Indiana (College)
1935-36 Earlham College - Indiana (College)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)



Jordan was a top scorer at Earlham College, and played with the Richmond Clothiers in the NBL. When the club disbanded and the franchise moved to Cincinnati, the club signed another played with the surname "Jordan" (Ken Jordan of Xavier University). I previously thought it was the same guy, but further research says otherwise.

He married Margaret Hammers in 1939 and they had one son.

Source:


Stats:
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/pete-jordan/

Sanders

Sanders

Born:



Died:



Career
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)


Researcher John Grasso found this name in a box score from the January 30, 1938 game between Cincy and Indianapolis. No other information available, Previously unidentified.

Source:
Indianapolis Star, January 31, 1938


Stats:

Loren Wright

Loren James Wright


Born:
May 11, 1917
Dayton, OH

Died:
September 10, 2005
Beavercreek, OH

Career
1935-36 Fairview High School - Dayton, Ohio (High School)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)
1939-40 Delco - Dayton (Independent) 
1940-41 Delco - Dayton (Independent)


Wright was born in Dayton, Ohio and attended Fairview High School. A skilled golfer as well as basketball player, he started working at Delco Moraine in 1943 and stayed there 31 years until retirement. He was married to Nelliemae Highfill (1919-1996) in 1940 and the pair had two daughters (Donna and Deborah) and a son (Robin). He died in 2005 after suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

Obit:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dayton/obituary.aspx?n=Loren-Wright&pid=15083389

probasketballenclyclopedia has him as Loren Francis Wright (1912-1977) but I am fairly certain it is Loren James above.

Source:
Akron Beacon Journal, March 18, 1941

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/w/wrighlo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=wrighlo03

Socko Wiethe

John Albert "Socko" Wiethe


Born:
October 17, 1912
Cincinnati, OH

Died:
May 3, 1989
Cincinnati, OH

Career
Roger Bacon High School - Cincinnati, Ohio (High School)
Xavier High School - Cincinnati, Ohio (High School)
1931-32 Xavier University (College)
1932-33 Xavier University (College)
1933-34 Xavier University (College)
1934-35 Dayton York Supplies (Independent)
1935-36 Dayton (Independent)
1936-37 Dayton London Bobbies (MBC)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL) Player / Head Coach
1946-47 University of Cincinnati (College) - Head coach
1947-48 University of Cincinnati (College) - Head coach
1948-49 University of Cincinnati (College) - Head coach
1949-50 University of Cincinnati (College) - Head coach
1950-51 University of Cincinnati (College) - Head coach
1951-52 University of Cincinnati (College) - Head coach


"Socko" Wiethe was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, He played football, baseball, and basketball at Xavier University ('34). After graduating, he went on to join Cincinnati when the Comellos moved there from Richmond. After the team disbanded in the off-season, Wiethe went on to play four seasons as a guard/linebacker for the Detroit Lions in the NFL. In 1946, he was named head coach for the Cincinnati Bearcats, leading the squad to five conference titles in the first five seasons. Wiethe became an attorney and started his own practice in Cincinnati. He entered politics and was the chairman of the Hamilton County Democratic Party for 34 years. He resigned that post in 1988, and died the following year of a blood disease. He married Ruth (1913-1985) and the couple had three daughters, Barbara Wiethe, Kathy Lippert and Jayne Zuberbuhler, and a son, Michael (1947-2013).



Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/w/wiethjo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=wiethjo01

NFL Career:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WietSo20.htm

Norman Wagner

Norman Otto Wagner, Jr.


Born:
February 5, 1912
St Louis, MO

Died:
April 22, 1998
Columbia, MO

Career
Normandy High School - St Louis (High School)
1932-33 University of Missouri (College)
1935-35 Dayton Metropolitans (MBC)
1936-37 Dayton Metropolitans (MBC)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)
1937-38 Columbus Athletic Supply (NBL)
1937-38 Dayton Metropolitans (NBL)
1938-39 Coshocton Buckeye Clothiers (Independent)
1938-39 Dayton Hall's Laundry (Independent)
1939-40 Waterloo Wonders (Independent)
1940-41 Dayton Wonders (Independent)
1940-41 Columbus Bobb Chevrolet (Independent)


Born to Norman (c.1884-1959) and Charlotte Wagner (c.1888-????), Wagner went to college at Missouri. Played for three different teams in the NBL in 1937-38; Columbus, Richmond/Cincinnati and Dayton. Was president of the Engineers Club of Columbus from 1948-49. Later refereed high school games around Ohio.


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/w/wagneno01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=wagneno01

Earl Thomas

Earl Hubert Thomas


Born:
September 22, 1915
Ashland, OH

Died:
October 7, 1989
Elyria, OH 

Career
1931-32 Ashland High School - Ohio (High School)

1932-33 Ashland High School - Ohio (High School)
1934-35 Ohio State University (College)
1935-36 Ohio State University (College)
1936-37 Ohio State University (College)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)
1938-39 Indianapolis Kautskys (NBL)


From Ashland, Ohio, and a graduate of Ashland High School, Earl "Tommy" Thomas was a local sports legend. He lettered in four sports in four years of high school, and moved on to become the center on the Ohio State basketball team and was selected all-Big 10 in his junior year. He was a regional sales manger for Penton Publishing Company and retired from there in 1983.
Source:
http://www.ashlandcosportshof.org/Earl_Thomas.html
I contacted the Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame Historian Paul Dienstberger via email, and he was able, with the help of associate Betty Plank, to get me the death record of our player, Earl Hubert Thomas. Died in 1989 in Elyria, Ohio at 74 years of age. Thank you, Paul and Betty!


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/t/thomaea01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=thomaea01

Frank Shamel

Franklin Rule Shamel


Born:
December 6, 1912
Greencastle, IN

Died:
November 2, 1994
Sun City, AZ 

Career
1927-28 Lincoln High School - Cambridge City, Indiana (High School)
1928-29 Lincoln High School - Indiana (High School)
1929-30 Lincoln High School - Indiana (High School)
1930-31 Earlham College (College)
1931-32 Earlham College (College)
1932-33 Earlham College (College)
1933-34 Earlham College (College)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)

Shamel was born in Greencastle, Indiana. He graduated from Lincoln High School ('30). He then attended Earlham College ('34) and lead the team to an unbeaten season. He played played for Richmond Clothiers in all three games before they moved. He later became a life insurance salesman. He married Laura (1912-1989) and had two daughters, Dede Davalos and Ann Goodnoff, and one son, Timothy Shamel.



Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/shamefr01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=shamefr01

Edgar Saffer

Edgar Pearl Saffer, Jr.


Born:
July 27, 1918
Green's Fork, IN

Died:
July 6, 1982
Richmond, IN 

Career
1934-35 Green's Fork High School - Indiana (High School)
1935-36 Green's Fork High School - Indiana (High School)
1936-37 Green's Fork High School - Indiana (High School)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)



Saffer is the son of Edgar (1887-1946) and Maida Saffer (1892-1972), and from Green's Fork, Indiana, Saffer went to Green's Fork High School and played one game for the Richmond Clothiers before they moved to Cincinnati after three games. He married Vienna (1917-2002) and had a son, Jan Saffer, and a daughter, Cynthia (Saffer) Himes (1938-2008). He served in the army in World War 2. Saffer died in Richmond, Indiana, in 1982.


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/saffeed01n.html
www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=saffeju01

Leo Sack

Leo Paul Sack


Born:
May 18, 1914
Ohio

Died:
January 2, 1987
Cincinnati, OH 

Career
1929-30 Purcell High School - Cincinnati, OH (High School)
1930-31 Purcell High School - Cincinnati, OH (High School)
1931-32 Purcell High School - Cincinnati, OH (High School)
1932-33 Xavier University (College)
1933-34 Xavier University (College) 
1934-35 Xavier University (College)
1935-36 Xavier University (College)
1936-37 Dayton Metropolitans (MBC)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)



A graduate of Purcell High School in Cincinnati, Leo P. Sack moved on to attend Xavier University ('36) where he not only excelled in basketball, but was the starting quarterback for the football team. Despite his small frame (5'8, 145 lbs), Sack was a very gifted quarterback, quick and agile. He joined the Comellos in 1937-38. He later worked in the insurance industry, labor relations, and was even employed by the FBI. Married to Kathryn Mullen, and later to Dolores Sack (1917-1980), Sack died in Cincinnati in 1987.

Source:
Obituary, Cincinnati Enquirer, January 4, 1987

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/sackle01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=sackle01

Gene Mechling

Homer Eugene "Gene" Mechling


Born:
March 24, 1909
Hopewell, OH

Died:
January 26, 1975
Venice, FL 

Career
Glenford High School - Ohio (High School) 
1929-30 Capital University (College)
1930-31 Capital University (College)
1931-32 Capital University (College)
1931-32 Hebron Gassers (Independent)
1931-32 Newark Sterling Oils (Independent)
1932-33 Cochocton (Independent)
1933-34 Cochocton Independents (Independent)
1933-34 Cochocton Buckeyes (Independent)
1934-35 Cochocton Buckeyes  (Independent) 
1935-36 Lancaster (Semi-Pro)
1935-36 Dayton Metropolitans (MBC)
1936-37 Dayton Metropolitans (MBC)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)
1938-39 Dayton Hall's Laundry (Independent) 


Gene Mechling was born in Hopewell, Ohio, the son of Homer (1876-1954) and Gertrude Mechling (1881-1964). He graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, in 1932. He coached high school basketball somewhere in western Ohio prior to 1942, when he was an instructor at Chillicothe High School as well as an official for highs school basketball. He was married to Eleanor (1908-1990) and died in Venice, Florida, in 1975.

Grave:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=68516474

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/m/mcadajo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mcadajo01
http://peachbasketsociety.blogspot.com/2015/08/gene-mechling.html

Joe Kruse

Joseph R. Kruse


Born:
September 9, 1914
Louisville, KY

Died:
January 18, 2003
Cincinnati, OH

Career
1930-31 St. Xavier High School - Kentucky (High School)
1931-32 St. Xavier High School - Kentucky (High School)
1932-33 St. Xavier High School - Kentucky (High School) 
1933-34 Xavier University (College) Freshmen
1934-35 Xavier University (College)
1935-36 Xavier University (College)
1936-37 Xavier University (College)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)



From Louisville, Kentucky, Joseph R. Kruse graduated from St. Xavier High School in Louisville, and then went to Xavier University in Cincinnati, where he played football and basketball. He joined the Comellos to play basketball, appearing in six games. He then went on to play football for the Cincinnati Bengals of the early AFL from 1938-1941. He joined the army for World War 2, and upon his return, continued to work for Joseph Kruse Insurance Company, which he opened in 1937. He retired in 1982. He was married to Dorothy Torstrick (1917-1993) and had two daughters, Patrice and Dotty. He died in Cincinnati in 2003 after being struck by a car.
Obituary:
http://www.tributes.com/show/Joseph-R.-Kruse-34247744

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/k/krusejo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=krusejo01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/joe-kruse/

Ken Jordan

Kenneth Patrick Jordan, Sr.


Born:
June 18, 1912 
California

Died:
October 14, 1994
Fort Mitchell, KY

Career
1931-32 Xavier University (College)
1932-33 Xavier University (College)
1933-34 Xavier University (College)
1934-35 Falls City - Cincinnati (unk)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)
1937-38 Xavier University (College) Assistant coach
1938-39 Pressler - Cincinnati (AAU)


Went to Xavier ('34) where he played football and basketball. He later worked as an official for high school games in the Cincinnati area.

His son, Ken Jordan Jr, went to Beechwood High School and played football at Univ of Cincinnati.

Source:
Cincinnati Enquirer, 9/23/1967
Cincinnati Enquirer, 10/16/1994

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/j/jordake01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=jordake01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/ken-jordan/

Harold Bower

Harold Elijah Bower

Born:
March 25, 1912
Seymour, IN

Died:
November 13, 1992
Boynton Beach, FL


Career
1927-28 Morton Memorial High School - Knightstown, Indiana (High School)
1928-29 Morton Memorial High School - Knightstown, Indiana (High School)
1929-30 Morton Memorial High School - Knightstown, Indiana (High School)
1930-31 Earlham College (College)
1931-32 Earlham College (College)
1932-33 Earlham College (College)
1933-34 Earlham College (College)
1936-37 Morton Memorial High School - Knightstown, Indiana (High School) Head coach
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)
1937-38 Morton Memorial High School - Knightstown, Indiana (High School) Head coach
1938-39 Morton Memorial High School - Knightstown, Indiana (High School) Head coach



Born to George and Lula Jones Bower (1895-1919) in Seymour, Indiana, he attended high school at Morton Memorial in Knightstown and then went to college at Earlham College. He hurt his leg playing football for Earlham in 1933 and missed the following basketball season, too. His name is spelled "Bowers" in other places, but the Earlham Yearbooks spell it "Bower." According to the 1939 Morton Memorial HS yearbook, Harold Bower took over as basketball coach.

He married Barbara Jordan (1918-1971) on September 12, 1937. They had a daughter, Ann Biggers (b.1935), and a son, Benjamin (1953-1998). He was remarried to Nora.


Source
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:27K3-7C7
http://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/harold-elijah-bower_7606568 *

* (Thanks to John Grasso for the link)


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/b/bowerha01n.html
www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=bowerha01

Carl Austing

Carl B. Austing

Born:
April 25, 1910
Cincinnati, OH

Died:
March 25, 1992
Cincinnati, OH

Career
1932-33 University of Cincinnati (College)
1933-34 University of Cincinnati (College)
1934-35 University of Cincinnati (College)
1935-36 Cincinnati Redlegs (Independent)
1936-37 Dayton London Bobbies (MBC)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)
1938-39 Dayton Hall's Laundry (Independent)
1939-40 Waterloo Wonders (Independent)



Austing attended the University of Cincinnati where he was named All-Star and All Ohio. He was also a skilled tennis player. After some brief pro and semi-pro basketball, he worked at Wilson Sporting Goods until his retirement. He even played on a senior basketball team in 1985. Austing died of a stroke in 1992.

He was married to Marcella Willke Austing (1911-1991) and had two daughters, Lois and Susan.

Source:
Cincinnati Enquirer, March 27, 1992

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/a/austica01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=austica01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/carl-austing/

Stanley Arnzen

Stanley H. Arnzen

Born:
August 8, 1914
Newport, KY

Died:
April 23, 1977
Fort Mitchell, KY

Career
1932-33 Newport High School in Newport, KY
1933-34 Newport High School in Newport, KY
1934-35 Newport High School in Newport, KY
1935-36 Morehead State (College)
1936-37 Morehead State (College)
1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers/Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)


From Newport, Kentucky, Arnzen was a baseball and basketball star at Newport High School. He graduated in 1935, and went to Morehead State where he continued baseball and basketball. He was signed by the Cincinnati Reds and won the Spalding Trophy in 1937, given to the "Outstanding Minor League Player" of that season. He broke his leg sliding into second and the injury ended his playing career before making it to the major leagues. Arnzen wound up teaching and coaching basketball at Newport High School in Newport, Kentucky. In 22 years of coaching basketball, he never had a losing season. He was suspended in 1969 for holding unauthorized practices.

Stanley married Jean Rice (1921-1985) in 1937 and the couple had two daughters, Donna Dahmann and Joann Thinnes. Arnzen died in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, in 1977.

Minor League Baseball stats:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=arnzen001sta
2008 LaRosa Hall of Fame Inductee:

http://www.larosasmvp.com/fame/2008_inductees.htm

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/a/arnzest01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=adamsra01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/stan-arnzen/

1937-38 Richmond King Clothiers / Cincinnati Comellos (NBL)

1937-38 RICHMOND KING CLOTHIERS / 
CINCINNATI COMELLOS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 3-7 .300, 5th place

After starting the year in Richmond, Indiana, with a 1-2 record, the team dropped on December 9, 1937. The franchise was moved to Cincinnati on January 5, 1938, and became the Comellos. They played their first home game there on January 16, 1938. Bob McConachie (May 11, 1905 - August 28, 1976) was a co-owner of the team while in Richmond, but it became too great a financial burden. Augustino W. "Gus" Comello (August 1886 - November 3, 1956) had bought the team and brought them to Cincinnati.

Head Coaches:

• Bob McConachie (May 11, 1905 - August 28, 1976)  1-4
• Socko Wiethe (October 17, 1912 - May 3, 1989) 2-3 Also played. See below

PLAYERS:  

• Stanley Arnzen (April 8, 1914 - April 23, 1977)

Biography

• Carl Austing (April 25, 1910 - March 25, 1992)

Biography

• Harold Bower (March 25, 1912 - November 13, 1992)

Biography

• Ken Jordan (June 18, 1912 - October 14, 1994)

Biography

• Pete Jordan (July 17, 1913 - March 5, 1992)

Biography

• Joseph Kruse (September 9, 1914 - January 18, 2003)

Biography

• Gene Mechling (March 24, 1909 - January 26, 1975)

Biography

• Leo Sack (May 18, 1914 - January 2, 1987)

Biography

• Edgar Saffer (July 27, 1918 - July 6, 1982)

Biography

• Sanders   

Biography

• Frank Shamel (December 6, 1912 - November 2, 1994)

Biography

• Earl Thomas (September 22, 1915 - October 7, 1989)

Biography

• Norman Wagner (February 5, 1912 - April 22, 1998)

Biography

• Socko Wiethe (October 17, 1912 - May 3, 1989)

Biography

• Loren Wright (May 11, 1917 - September 10, 2005)

Biography