Reno Strand

Reno O. Strand


Born:
May 14, 1909
Erie, PA 

Died:
June 27, 1988
Erie, PA


Career
1931-32 House of David (Independent)
1932-33 Warren Transits (independent)
1933-34 Union City Ritz Pennsylvanians (Industrial League)
1934-35 Erie General Electrics (Independent)
1934-35 Warren Hyvis Oils (Independent)
1935-36 Warren Hyvis Oils (Independent)
1936-37 Warren Hyvis Oils (Independent)
1937-38 Warren Penns (NBL)
1938-39 Warren Penns/Cleveland White Horses (NBL)
1942-43 Strong Vincent High School - Erie, PA (High School) - Head Coach
1943-44 Strong Vincent High School - Erie, PA (High School) - Head Coach
1946-47 Corry Vets (Independent)
1952-53 National Transits - Warren, PA (Independent) 


One of nine children born to Andrew Gustav (1882-1942) and Anna Katherine Broberg Strand (1882-1979). Aside from being an excellent basketball player, Strand was also a champion diver and semi-pro baseball player. A local legend in Warren, Strand joined the Penns late in the 1937-38 season.
After his playing days, the 6'4 Strand stayed active in basketball by running a well-renown basketball camp at the Erie Boys Club in Erie, Pennsylvania, known for its rugged training regiment. He also owned and operated a construction company
He was married to Ann D. Strand (1909-1993).

Source:
Oil City Derrick (Oil City, PA), March 6, 1934


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/stranre01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=stranre01

Joe Leson

Joseph Louis Leson


Born:
August 24, 1912   
Canonsburg, PA 

Died:
April 3, 1967
Los Angeles, CA     

Career
1930-31 Canonsburg High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1933-34 Edinboro University (College)
1934-35 Edinboro University (College)
1936-37 HyVis Oil (Independent)
1936-37 Warren Oilers (MBC)
1938-39 Warren Penns/Cleveland White Horses (NBL)
1938-39 Elmira Colonels (NY-Penn League) 

Born to Stephen (1878-1954) and Veronica Skarupa Leson (1880-1963) in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Leson starred in basketball and football at Edinboro University. He served in the US Army during World War 2, and afterwards became a basketball official in the PAC10. He was working for the Veterans Hospital in Los Angeles when he died after a year-long illness.
He married Dorothy (1918-1999) and the couple had a son, Joseph (1951-2011), and a daughter, Diane Phillips.

Source:
Daily Notes (Canonsburg, Pennsyvania), April 5, 1967

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/l/lesonjo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=lesonjo01 

Bill Laughlin

William Merle Laughlin


Born:
December 10, 1915 
Hookstown, PA 

Died:
November 22, 1993 
Washington, PA     

Career
1931-32 East Liverpool High School - Ohio (High School)
1932-33 East Liverpool High School - Ohio (High School)
1933-34 East Liverpool High School - Ohio (High School)
1934-35 Washington & Jefferson College - College
1935-36 Washington & Jefferson College - College
1936-37 Washington & Jefferson College - College
1937-38 Washington & Jefferson College - College
1938-39 Elmira Colonels (NY-Penn League)
1938-39 Warren Penns/Cleveland White Horses (NBL)
1939-40 East Liverpool Fleetwing (Independent)
1939-40 East Liverpool High School - Ohio (High School) - Head Coach
1940-41 East Liverpool Fleetwing (Independent)
1940-41 East Liverpool High School - Ohio (High School) - Head Coach
1941-42 East Liverpool High School - Ohio (High School) - Head Coach
1942-43 East Liverpool High School - Ohio (High School) - Head Coach
1946-47 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1947-48 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1948-49 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1949-50 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1950-51 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1951-52 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1952-53 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1953-54 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1954-55 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1955-56 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1956-57 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1957-58 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1958-59 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1959-60 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1960-61 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach
1961-62 Washington High School - Pennsylvania (High School) - Head coach

Laughlin was born in Hookstown, to Clarence and Ora Scott Laughlin. He attended East Liverpool High School and afterwards went to Washington & Jefferson College, where he was a teammate of Hall of Famer Buddy Jeannette.  He worked at the Hazel-Atlas Glass Company after college, and both he and Jeannette traveled to Warren to join the Warren Penns in 1938. He started teaching and coaching at his alma mater, East Liverpool, in 1939, until 1943, when he entered the US Navy where he saw duty in both the European and Pacific theaters. Upon his return, went on to teach Social Studies and Health/Phys Ed and coach basketball at Washington High School in Washington, Pennsylvania. He stepped down from coaching after the 1961-62 season and retired in 1978.
Bill married Myra Cowden (1911-2000) on November 20, 1940, and they had a son, William Jr. (1941-   )




Sources:
Evening Review (East Liverpool, OH), May 9, 1939
Observer-Reporter (Washington County, PA), April 17, 1978
Observer-Reporter (Washington County, PA), November 23, 1993

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/l/laughbi01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=laughbi01 

Art Hyatt

Arthur Graves Hyatt


Born:
June 29, 1912  
Ansonia, CT

Died:
January 3, 1991
University Place, WA    

Career
1930-31 Schenley High School - (High School)
1932-33 Tulsa Diamond Oilers (AAU)
1933-34 Tulsa Diamond Oilers (AAU)
1934-35 Bradford Big Five (Independent)
1934-35 Hollywood Universal Pictures (AAU)
1936-37 Pittsburgh YMHA (MBC)
1938-39 Hyatt Big Five (Independent)
1938-39 Warren Penns/Cleveland White Horses  (NBL)
1938-39 Elmira Colonels (NY-Penn League) 
1939-40 Detroit Eagles (NBL)


Started with all we knew. Name and NBL teams played for. So the search begins, with Arthur Hyatt and searching through Pennsylvania and Ohio. That's where I found a 1978 obituary for Pitt basketball star Charley Hyatt, who was an all-time AAU star after his college days. The obituary mentions two surviving brothers, Mansfield and Arthur. As good of a lead as any. At the time of the obituary, the boys' mother, Ivy, was still alive but in the hospital. Arthur was still living in Pittsburgh, and Charley went to Uniontown High School in Pennsylvania. Mansfield died in 1986. Ivy died in 1984.
An article from the Evening Standard in Uniontown High School says that Arthur Hyatt, Charley's brother, was a "chip off the block", referring to his basketball skill. This is much more indicative that this is the right Arthur Hyatt.
Mansfield "Manny" Hyatt's obituary from the Pittsburgh Gazette in 1986 indicates Manny was the former owner of the Pittsburgh Raiders in the 1930's and was the president of Oshkosh in the NBL for a while. He is survived by his brother Arthur in Pittsburgh (at this point, we also get a middle initial for Arthur: G.
1940 and 1930 census record show Arthur was born around 1913, and his father was Charles  Dee Witt Hyatt, mother Ivy Graves Hyatt (1887-1984), living on Clarissa Street in Pittsburgh.
Using this info, I found Arthur G. Hyatt, born 1912, married October 20, 1942, to Yvonne Colenso. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942. 

12/14/2015
Looks like Art moved to Washington. I found this record of an Arthur Hyatt death. Burial in Washington, but connection on death certificate to Pennsylvania. Birthdate is in the right range.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JPD1-9W5
Checked deeper and found Yvonne Hyatt is also buried at same cemetery (1915-1988). Marriage record matches Yvonne's birthdate on grave.
https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VF74-R36
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSiman=1&GScid=76949&GSfn=&GSln=hyatt

We have found Arthur.

Source
Oshkosh Daily Northern, December 16, 1939


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/h/hyattar01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=hyattar01 

1938-39 Warren Penns / Cleveland White Horses (NBL)

1938-39 WARREN PENNS / CLEVELAND WHITE HORSES
NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 14-14 .500, Tied for 2nd Place

The Penns started the season 9-5. but moved to Cleveland on February 10, 1939, where they went 5-9 to finish 14-14.


Head Coach: Gerald Archibald (August 22, 1907 - November 25, 1990)
Also played. See below.

PLAYERS: 

• Gerald Archibald (August 22, 1907 - November 25, 1990)

Biography

• Bill Holland (April 10, 1914 - February 26, 2000)

Biography

• Art Hyatt (June 29, 1912 - January 3, 1991)

Biography

• Buddy Jeannette (September 15, 1917 - March 11, 1998)

Biography

• Bill Laughlin (December 10, 1915 - November 22, 1993)

Biography

• Joe Leson (August 24, 1912  - April 3, 1967)

Biography

• Fran Maury (July 15, 1910 - May 18, 1993)

Biography

• John Pawk (December 23, 1910 - December 28, 2004)

Biography

• Walter Stanky (February 24, 1911 - March 1978)

Biography

• Reno Strand (May 14, 1909 - June 27, 1988)

Biography

Walter "Deacon" Stanky

Walter "Deacon" "Deac" "Duke" Stanky
born Walter Joseph Stankiewicz, Jr.


Born:
February 24, 1911
Erie, PA

Died:
March 17, 1978
Erie, PA 

Career
1932-33 Ritz Pennsylvanians (Independent)
1932-33 Union City - Pennsylvania (Independent)
1933-34 Warren HyVis Oil (Independent)
1934-35 Erie General Electrics (Independent)
1935-36 Warren HyVis Oil (Independent)
1935-36 Buffalo Bisons (MBC)
1936-37 Warren Penns (MBC)
1937-38 Warren Penns (NBL)
1938-39 Elmira Colonels (NY-Penn League)
1938-39 Warren Penns/Cleveland White Horses (NBL)
1939-40 Detroit Eagles (NBL)
1939-40 Oshkosh All-Stars (NBL)
1940-41 Erie Forge and Steel - Pennsylvania (Industrial)
1945-46 Erie Moose (semi-pro)
1946-47 Corry Vets (Independent)
1947-48 Corry Vets (Independent)
1948-49 Warren Bulldogs (Independent)
1948-49 Erie Moose (Independent)


His name is spelled "Stankey" in most sources, but it appears "Stanky" is the actual spelling. "

What I knew: Walter "Deacon" Stanky played for Buffalo Bisons semi-pro team before joining Warren. After two seasons with the Penns, He played in Detroit and Oshkosh.
What I found out: Newspaper articles from Warren proclaimed the 200 pound athlete was from Erie, Pennsylvania. In March of 1960, Stanky attended a reunion of Warren-area semi-pro players.
Knowing the Erie connection, I found this burial record, which is the right location and age. I am 99% certain this is him.

Was married to Lydia Stanky (1911-1964)



Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/s/stankwa01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=stankde01

John Pawk

John A. Pawk


Born:
December 23, 1910
Butler, PA

Died:
December 28, 2004
West Chester, PA 

Career
Westminster College (College)
1931-32 Company D (Armstrong-Butler Cty - PA)
1932-33 Butler Penn Drakes (Independent)
1933-34 Butler Penn Drakes (Independent)
1934-35 Butler Penn Drakes (Independent)
1935-36 Butler Penn Drakes (Independent) 
1936-37 Warren HyVis Oil (MBC)
1937-38 Warren Penns (NBL)
1938-39 Warren Penns/Cleveland White Horses (NBL)

John Pawk was born in Butler, Pennsylvania, to Harry and Pearl Pawk. He attended Westminister College and played professionally for Warren after college. He then worked at the Lyndora Hotel for 40 years before retiring. He married Anne Louis Lucas (1909-1991) and had one son, John. Like his younger basketball-playing brother Steve, he died at 94, but in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Source:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 24, 1932

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/p/pawkjo01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=pawkja01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/johnny-pawk/

Emmett Morrison

Emmett Woodrow Morrison


Born:
August 24, 1915
Rossiter, PA

Died:
February 2, 1993
Georgetown, CA  

Career
1934-35 Brookville High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1935-36 Pittsburgh University (College)
1936-37 Pittsburgh University (College)
1937-38 Marconi Club - Warren, PA (Independent)
1937-38 Warren Penns (NBL)


Playing college basketball at Pitt, Morrison also held jobs washing dishes, parking cars, and carrying coal in the mines. He quit Pitt after his junior year to play professionally for Warren, making $15 a game as well as working at a plant. He also played semi-pro baseball in Warren.

He married Ruth Eckardt in 1938. 


Source: "Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball's Early Years" By Robert Peterson

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/m/morriem01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=morriem01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/emmett-morrison/

Frank Maury

Frank "Fran" "X" Maury

born Marion Frank Duchnowski


Born:
July 15, 1910         
Erie, PA

Died:
May 18, 1993

PA  

Career
1932-33 Union City - Pennsylvania (Independent)
1933-34 Warren HyVis Oil (Independent)
1934-35 Erie General Electrics (Independent)
1935-36 Warren HyVis Oil (Independent)
1935-36 Buffalo Bisons (MBC)
1936-37 Warren HyVis Oil (Independent)
1936-37 Warren Oilers (MBC)
1937-38 Warren Penns (NBL)
1938-39 Warren Penns/Cleveland White Horses (NBL)
1938-39 Elmira Colonels (NY-Penn League)
1952-53 National Transits - Warren, PA (Independent)

Maury measured only 5'5.

Maury also played baseball for the team at Erie General Electric and for Warren in 1938..

Maury owned a grocery store in Warren in 1962.



Source:
Indianapolis Star, February 22, 1937
Times Herald (Olean, NY), June 12, 1937

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/m/mauryfr01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=mauryfr01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/fran-maury/

Bill Holland

William James Holland


Born:
April 10, 1914 
Greenville, PA

Died:
February 26, 2000
Plymouth, MA

Career
1932-33 Edinboro University (College)
1933-34 Edinboro University (College)
1934-35 Edinboro University (College)
1935-36 Warren Penns (Independent)
1936-37 HyVis Oil (Independent)
1936-37 Warren Penns (MBC)
1937-38 Warren Penns (NBL)
1938-39 Warren Penns/Cleveland White Horses (NBL)
1938-39 Elmira Colonels (NY-Penn League) 
1939-40 Detroit Eagles (NBL)
1940-41 Detroit Eagles (Independent)  

Born to Clarence and Grace Holland in Greenville, Pennsylvania, Holland starred at Edinboro College and then went on a professional basketball journey that say him go through various teams and leagues.

After his playing career, he worked at Shell Oil for many years. In 1939, he thought about quitting the game to take up boxing

Source:
Warren Times Mirror, Feb 10, 1939

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/h/hollabi01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=hollabi01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/bill-holland/

Gerald Archibald

Gerald Bruce Archibald

Born:
August 22, 1907
Charlottetown, PEI, Canada

Died:
November 25, 1990
Warren, PA

Career
1926-27 Warren Clothes Shop (Semi-pro)
1927-28 Warren Crescents (Independent)
1927-28 Corry Keystones (Independent)
1928-29 Warren Merchants  (Independent)
1929-30 Warren Merchants  (Independent)
1930-31 Warren Merchants  (Independent)
1931-32 Warren Trasnits (Independent)
1932-33 Warren Transits (Independent)
1933-34 Warren Hy Vis Oilers (Independent)
1934-35 Warren Hy Vis Oilers (Independent)
1935-36 Warren Hy Vis Oilers (Independent) 
1936-37 Warren Penns (MBC) Head coach / player
1937-38 Warren Penns (NBL) Head coach / player
1938-39 Warren Penns / Cleveland White Horses (NBL) Head coach / player
1938-39 Elmira Colonels (New York / Penn League) Head coach
1939-40 Detroit Eagles (NBL) Head coach
1952-53 National Transits - Warren, PA (Independent) 

Gerald Archibald was born in 1907 in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. Archibald was the owner/GM/coach as well as a player. A member of the Midwest Basketball Conference, Warren joined the NBL despite losing its sponsorship with Hyvis Oil. Archibald secured a sponsorship from White Horse Motors in Cleveland and moved in part-way into the 1939-39 season. Archibald then moved the franchise to Detroit and sold the team in late 1940. Archibald was the son of Lyman Archibald, a member of James Naismith's first basketball team in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891. Lyman was the founder of the Archibald Fox Ranch in Warren in 1915, a business that Gerald and his wife Elizabeth ("Betty") took over and became even more prosperous. Gerald and Betty had two children.


Source:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 1, 1953
Warren County Observer, March 15, 1962

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/a/archige01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=archige01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/gerry-archibald/