Brady Walker

Brady Wenzell Walker


Born:
March 15, 1921
Santa Clara, UT

Died:
November 30, 2007
Orem, UT


Career
1938-39 Virgin Valley High School - Mesquite, NV (High School)
1941-42 Brigham Young University (College)
1942-43 Brigham Young University (College)
1945-46 Brigham Young University (College)
1946-47 Brigham Young University (College)
1947-48 Brigham Young University (College)
1947-48 Salt Lake Eckers (AAU)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1949-50 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1951-52 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Born to Ernest and Julia Wenzell in Santa Clara, Utah, the family moved to Nevada for a while and Walker attended Virgin Valley High School. He attended BYU, with his studies interrupted by World War 2, where he served under General George S. Patton in the 3rd Armored Division. He returned to BYU and after graduating he played basketball professionally until a serious leg injury ended his career. He owned and operated a construction company in Orem, Utah, for many years.

He married Olive Tucker (1923-2003) in 1943 during a furlough and they had one son and one daughter.

Walker played with BYU in the 1947-48 season, and despite being declared eligible for the conference, he was not eligible for the NCAA tournament.

Source:
Salt Lake Tribune, February 24, 1948
Salt Lake Tribune, February 27, 1948 
Salt Lake Tribune, March 18, 1948
Obituary, Herald Extra, December 3, 2007

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walkebr01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=walkebr01

Andy Tonkovich

Andrew Edward Tonkovich


Born:
November 1, 1922
Barrackville, WV

Died:
September 2, 2006
Inverness, FL


Career
Union High School - Benwood, WV (High School)
1944-45 Marshall University (College)
1945-46 Marshall University (College)
1946-47 Marshall University (College)
1947-48 Marshall University (College)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 Wheeling Blues (AABL)
1949-50 Wheeling Blues (AABL)
1950-51 Wheeling Blues (AABL) Head coach / Player

Born in Barrackville, WV (according to Social Security Application, not Unionville), Tonkovich went into the U.S. Army right out of high school to serve his country for World War 2, and entered Marshall after his service. He was the first overall pic in the 1948 BAA draft by the Providence Steamrollers. He only played 17 games for Providence, and then signed with the Wheeling Blues in January of 1949. , he went on to coach the Wheeling Blues and then on to coaching at the high school level around West Virginia. After his retirement, he was a skilled pool player, winning many senior tournament.

He was married to Wilma (1926-1996) and had two sons and two daughters.

Source:
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, January 7, 1949
Obituary, SP Times, September 11, 2006

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/tonkoan01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=tonkoan01

Howie Shannon

Howard Payne Shannon


Born:
June 10, 1923
Manhattan, KS

Died:
August 16, 1995
Plano, TX


Career
1942-43 North Texas State University (College)
1946-47 Denver Continental Airlines (AAU)
1947-48 Kansas State (College)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1949-50 Boston Celtics (BAA)
1950-51 Topeka High School (High School) Head coach
1951-52 Topeka High School (High School) Head coach
1952-53 Topeka High School (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Topeka High School (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1955-56 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1956-57 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1957-58 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1958-59 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1959-60 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1960-61 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1961-62 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1962-63 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1963-64 Kansas State (College) Assistant coach
1964-65 Virginia Tech (College) Head coach
1965-66 Virginia Tech (College) Head coach
1966-67 Virginia Tech (College) Head coach
1967-68 Virginia Tech (College) Head coach
1968-69 Virginia Tech (College) Head coach
1969-70 Virginia Tech (College) Head coach

Born to Joseph and Sarah Shannon in Kansas, Howie went to North Texas before serving during World War 2. Set to return to the North Texas team in 1946, he quit school that October to play for pay with the Denver Continental team. He went to KSU after and the played in the BAA with Providence and Celtics before taking a coaching and teaching job at Topeka HS. After four years there, he was brought on as an assistant coach at Kansas State, where he stayed until landing the head coaching gig at Virginia Tech. Shannon lead the Hokies into the regional finals in 1967 (aka in the Elite 8) the season after a NIT birth, and stayed as coach at VT until stepping down in 1970. He died of lung cancer in 1995.

He was married to Patricia.

Source:
Lawrence Journal World, March 23, 1954
Free Lance-Star, April 13, 1964
Herald Journal, March 31, 1971

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/shannho01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=shannho01

Otto Schnellbacher

Otto Ole Schnellbacher


Born:
April 15, 1923
Sublette, KS

Died:
March 10, 2008
Topeka, KS


Career
1938-39 Sublette High School - Kansas (High School)
1939-40 Sublette High School - Kansas (High School)
1940-41 Sublette High School - Kansas (High School)
1941-42 Kansas University (College) Freshmen
1942-43 Kansas University (College)
1946-47 Kansas University (College)
1947-48 Kansas University (College)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 St. Louis Bombers (BAA)

Born to John and Elfie Schnellbacher in Sublette, Otto had to overcome the death of his family when Otto was 12. He was a football star at Sublette HS, and headed to Kansas to play football and basketball. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War 2, and returned to Kansas after the war. After graduating from Kansas, Otto went to play four seasons in the AAFC and the NFL as a defensive back (leading the league in interceptions in his rookie season) as well as playing a season in the BAA. After this athletic career, he worked as an insurance agent for American United Life for 25 years.

He married Theresa Renner (1923-1990) and they at least one daughter, Mary, and two sons, Otto and Brad. He remarried to Jane Jung in 1991 and died of cancer in 2008.

Pro Football Stats:
http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SchnOt00.htm

Source:
Otto's Obit and Grave
Theresa's Obit and Grave


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/schneot01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=schneot01

Les Pugh

Leslie Ellsworth Pugh


Born:
September 18, 1922
Butler, OH

Died:
February 25, 1979
Franklin, OH


Career
1937-38 Middletown High School - Ohio (High School)
1938-39 Middletown High School - Ohio (High School)
1946-47 Ohio State University (College)
1947-48 Dayton Metros (AABL)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1949-50 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Born in 1922 to Stanley and Ella Pugh (some sources say 1923). He served in the U.S. Navy during World War 2.



Source:


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pughle01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=pughle01

Fred Paine

Frederick Vincent Paine, Jr.


Born:
December 7, 1925
Stockdale, PA

Died:
October 26, 2004
Jupiter, FL


Career
1943-44 Westminster College - Pennsylvania (College)
1945-46 Westminster College - Pennsylvania (College)
1946-47 Westminster College - Pennsylvania (College)
1947-48 Youngstown Cubs (AABL)
1947-48 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1949-50 Washington Gunners / Jewels (AABL)
1950-51 Altoona Flyers (AABL)

Paine starred at Westminster College, interrupted with his service in the U.S. Navy during World War 2. He played in various professional leagues in the Eastern U.S., including a brief stop with Providence in the BAA. Paine was also a fine amateur golfer, winning the Pennsylvania amateur title and competing in the national tournament five times. He worked for Nalco in the Metals Division for many years, eventually becoming he President of the International Division.

Fred was married to Barbara Johnson (1926-2007) in 1950 and they had three sons.

Source:
Altoona Tribune, December 23, 1950
Pittsburgh Press, August 30, 1964
Obituary, Chicago Tribune, October 30, 2004
Barbara's Obituary, Salt Lake Tribune, July 5, 2007

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/painefr01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=painefr01

Bob Brown

Robert Edward Brown


Born:
November 12, 1923
Versailles, OH

Died:
July 28, 2016
Missouri City, TX


Career
1939-40 Greenville High School - Ohio (High School)
1940-41 Greenville High School - Ohio (High School)
1941-42 Greenville High School - Ohio (High School)
1942-43 Miami University - Ohio (College)
1946-47 Miami University - Ohio (College)
1947-48 Miami University - Ohio (College)
1948-49 Miami University - Ohio (College)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1949-50 Denver Nuggets (NBA)
1950-51 Denver Refiners (NPBL)

Born in Versailles, Ohio, to Orville and Mabel Brown, Brown served in the USMC during World War 2. He graduated from Miami University of Ohio on January 28, 1949, and signed with the Steamrollers two days later. He played pro basketball for a few years before moving out to Texas. He worked as a sales rep and sales manager for many years in the steel industry.


Married twice, Brown had a son and a daughter.

Source:
New Journal (Wilmington, DE), January 31, 1949
Miami Redhawks Hall of Fame
Obituary, Miami University
Obituary, Houston Chronicle, August 21, 2016

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brownbo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=brownbo01

1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)

1948-49 PROVIDENCE STEAMROLLERS
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Eastern Division
Finished: 12-48 .200, 6th place

• Head Coach: Ken Loeffler (April 14, 1902 - January 1, 1975)

PLAYERS: 

• Bob Brown (November 12, 1923 - July 28, 2016)

Biography

• Ernie Calverley (January 30, 1924 - October 20, 2003)

Biography

• Johnny Ezersky (March 21, 1922 - February 20, 2012)

Biography

• Chick Halbert (February 27, 1919 - March 4, 2013)

Biography

• Bob Hubbard (December 27, 1922 - August 27, 2011)

Biography

• Carl Meinhold (March 29, 1926 - February 23, 2019)

Biography

• George Nostrand (January 25, 1924 - November 8, 1991)

Biography

• Buddy O'Grady (January 19, 1920 - February 19, 1992)

Biography

• Fred Paine (December 7, 1925 - October 26, 2004)

Biography

• Les Pugh (September 18, 1922 - February 25, 1979)

Biography

• Mel Riebe (July 12, 1916 - July 25, 1977 )

Biography

• Lee Robbins (February 11, 1922 - April 8, 1968)

Biography

• Giff Roux (June 28, 1923 - August 19, 2011)

Biography

• Kenny Sailors (January 14, 1921 - January 30, 2016)

Biography

• Ben Scharnus (December 11, 1917 - March 19, 1982)

Biography

• Otto Schnellbacher (April 15, 1923 - March 10, 2008)

Biography

• Earl Shannon (November 23, 1921 - July 8, 2002)

Biography

• Howie Shannon (June 10, 1923 - August 16, 1995)

Biography

• Andy Tonkovich (November 1, 1922 - September 2, 2006)

Biography

• Brady Walker (March 15, 1921 - November 30, 2007)

Biography

Jack Toomay

John Crawford Toomay


Born:
August 9, 1922
Ontario, CA

Died:
March 11, 2008
Carlsbad, CA


Career
1938-39 Webb High School - Claremont, CA (High School)
1939-40 Webb High School - Claremont, CA (High School)
1941-42 College of Pacific (College)
1942-43 College of Pacific (College)
1943-44 College of Pacific (College)
1946-47 College of Pacific (College)
1947-48 Chicago Stags (BAA)
1947-48 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 Washington Capitols (BAA)
1948-49 Baltimore Bullets (BAA)
1949-50 Denver Nuggets (NBA)

Toomy served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War 2, and then after college played professional basketball for three seasons before being recalled into the Air Force for the Korean War. He stayed in the Air Force until retiring in 1979, having attained the rank of Major General. He worked at the Pentagon through most of the 1970's, formulating nuclear missle projects and other defense plans. Toomay died of peritonitis in 2008.

He was married to Virginia Sadler (1924-2005) on October 11, 1944,  and one of their sons, Pat Toomay, played in the NFL.



Source:
Obituary, Dallas Morning News, March 16, 2008
Chicago Tribune, April 8, 2008

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/toomaja01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=toomaja01

Lee Robbins

Lee Roy Robbins


Born:
February 11, 1922
Rockwall, TX

Died:
April 8, 1968
Billings, MT


Career
1937-38 Greeley High School - Colorado (High School)
1938-39 Greeley High School - Colorado (High School)
1939-40 Greeley High School - Colorado (High School)
1940-41 Colorado University (College) Freshmen
1941-42 Colorado University (College)
1945-46 Colorado University (College)
1946-47 Colorado University (College)
1947-48 Twin Cities Celtics (NYSL)
1947-48 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)

Born in Texas, Robbins grew up in Greeley, Colorado. He attended Colorado University, with his education interrupted by a stint in the U.S. Army during the war. After graduating, he put in two seasons with the Steamrollers.
Robbins later moved to Montana, where he was owner of William H. Rorer Pharmaceuticals, president of Western Lithographs and vice president at Sportsman Supply Inc.

In April of 1968, Robbins went to Logan Airfield in Billings, Montana, for a business meeting. He failed to appear, and his body was found that night by two Eastern Montana University students on a road near the airport. He had been found shot twice in the head. Two months later, a burglary was committed where a watch dog was shot. One of the burglars was arrested receiving stolen goods, and he implicated his partners. One of these partners, Gary Lee Quigg, possessed the 22 caliber handgun that killed the dog. The bullets matched the ones that killed Robbins. Quigg was tried for Robbins murder, and the first trial ended in a hung jury. The second trial got the conviction, and Quigg was sentenced to life in prison. Quigg appealed to the state supreme court in 1970 but the conviction was upheld. Quigg was paroled in 2006.

Robbins and his wife, Janet, had two sons and a daughter.

Source:
Great Falls Tribune, April 10, 1968
Great Falls Tribune, April 12, 1968
Great Falls Tribune, April 9, 1969
Billings Gazette, April 3, 1970
State of Montana v. Gary Lee Quigg


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/robbile01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=robbile01

Carl Meinhold

Carl Marvin "Red" Meinhold


Born:
March 29, 1926
West Hazleton, PA

Died:
February 23, 2019
Reading, PA


Career
1941-42 Hazleton High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1942-43 Hazleton High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1943-44 Hazleton High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1944-45 Long Island University (College)
1945-46 Long Island University (College)
1946-47 Hazleton Mountaineers (EPBL)
1947-48 Baltimore Bullets (BAA)
1948-49 Chicago Stags (BAA)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1949-50 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1951-52 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1953-54 Berwick Carbuilders (EPBL)
1954-55 Hazleton Hawks (EPBL)

A big basketball star at Hazleton HS, "Red" lead HHS into the state championship game in 1944 but a leg injury kept him from playing the the title game, which Hazleton lost. After graduating, Meinhold went on to Long Island University. After a successful freshman season, he looked at returning back home to play at Scranton University before being dismissed by the LIU coach for not meeting academic requirements. He entered the army and served in post-war Yokohama, Japan. He returned to the USA and signed with the Baltimore Bullets. He played one season with them before moving on the the Stags and the Steamrollers.
While playing in the Eastern League, he also worked for New York Life Insurance. He later worked for Montgomery Ward as a regional manager.

Carl married Elizabeth Tait on June 19, 1954 and they had four sons and one daughter.

Source:
The Plain Speaker (Hazleton, PA), March 29, 1944
The Plain Speaker (Hazleton, PA), July 9, 1945
Brooklyn Daily Eagle, December 18, 1945

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/meinhca01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=meinhca01

Bill Downey

William Kavanaugh Downey


Born:
November 11, 1923
Milwaukee, WI

Died:
September 5, 2015
Des Plaines, IL


Career
Marquette Prep - Milwaukee (High School)
1942-43 Marquette University (College)
1943-44 Marquette University (College)
1944-45 Great Lakes (Military)
1945-46 Great Lakes (Military)

1946-47 Worcester Irish-Americans (NEBL)  

1947-48 Hartford Pros (NEBL)
1947-48 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)

Later worked for Dresser Tool Group and Dresser Industries in Chicago.

Downey and his wife had three daughters.







Source:
http://person.ancestry.com/tree/104307917/person/410037256160/story


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/downebi01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=downebi01

1947-48 Providence Steam Rollers (BAA)

1947-48 PROVIDENCE STEAMROLLERS
BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
Eastern Division
Finished: 6-42 .125, 4th place

• Head Coaches: 

Albert Soar (August 17, 1914 - December 24, 2001)  2-17
Nat Hickey (January 30, 1902 - September 16, 1979)  4-25


PLAYERS: 

• Hank Beenders (June 2, 1916 - October 25, 2003)

Biography

• Ernie Calverley (January 30, 1924 - October 20, 2003)

Biography

• Bill Downey (November 11, 1923 - September 5, 2015)

Biography

• Johnny Ezersky (March 21, 1922 - February 20, 2012)

Biography

• Dick Fitzgerald (November 18, 1920 - April 13, 1968)

Biography

• Pop Goodwin (December 22, 1920 - May 17, 2005)

Biography

• Wyndol Gray (March 20, 1922 - January 30, 1994)

Biography

• Nat Hickey (January 30, 1902 - September 16, 1979)

Biography

• Bob Hubbard (December 27, 1922 - August 27, 2011)

Biography

• John Janisch (March 15, 1920 - August 29, 1992)

Biography
 

• Jerry Kelly (June 14, 1918 - July 23, 1996)

Biography

• Dino Martin (May 25, 1920 - July 24, 1999)

Biography

• Ariel Maughan (February 23, 1923 - August 4, 1997)

Biography

• George Mearns (April 18, 1922 - December 27, 1997)

Biography

• George Nostrand (January 25, 1924 - November 8, 1991)

Biography

• Lee Robbins (February 11, 1922 - April 8, 1968)

Biography

• Kenny Sailors (January 14, 1921 - January 30, 2016)

Biography

• Earl Shannon (November 23, 1921 - July 8, 2002)

Biography

• Mel Thurston (January 16, 1919 - October 8, 1997)

Biography

• Jack Toomay (August 9, 1922 - March 11, 2008)

Biography

• Ray Wertis (July 30, 1923 - January 19, 2006)

Biography

Ray Wertis

Raymond Anthony Wertis


Born:
July 30, 1923
Elmhurst, NY

Died:
January 19, 2006
Hollywood, FL


Career
1939-40 Far Rockaway High School - New York (High School)
1940-41 Far Rockaway High School - New York (High School)
1942-43 St. John's University (College) Freshmen
1943-44 St. John's University (College)
1944-45 St. John's University (College)
1945-46 St. John's University (College)
1946-47 Toronto Huskies (BAA)
1946-47 Cleveland Rebels (BAA)
1947-48 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 Saratoga Indians (NYSL)

Ray came out of St. John's and was one of Ed Sadowski's New York players in Toronto. He was traded in December of 1947 along with Sadowski to Cleveland.

Wertis later became a police officer and a homicide detective.

Source:

Sun-Sentinel, January 29, 2006

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/wertira01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=wertira01

Lou Spicer

Lewis Graves Spicer III


Born:
November 12. 1922
Watertown, NY

Died:
June 23, 1981
Watertown, NY


Career
1940-41 Watertown High School - New York (High School)
1944-45 Syracuse University (College) Freshmen
1942-43 Syracuse University (College)
1944-45 Syracuse University (College)
1945-46 Syracuse University (College)
1946-47 Mohawk Redskins (NYSL)
1946-47 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1947-48 Wheeling Puritans (AABL)

While at Syracuse, Spicer entered the U.S. Army but was discharged after 17 months for medical reasons. He returned to Syracuse and graduated in 1946. He passed the bar in 1947, after playing with the Steamrollers. He returned to Watertown where he worked for the city as legal counsel and later was on the Republican election commission. He coached and player tennis and basketball all the while, winning he city single tennis championship in 1961.

Spicer was 58 when when he died of Parkinson's Disease.

He married Ernestene Blankenship in December of 1947. They had two sons and a daughter. One son, Michael, was involved in a high-profile murder case. He was charged, along with three other men, of murdering Lois McMcMillen in the British Virgin Islands. Eventually acquitted of the crime, Michael still faced obstruction charges. 

Source:
Watertown Daily Times, March 3, 2008

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/spicelo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=spicelo01

Bob Shea

Robert Francis Shea


Born:
September 11, 1924
Mystic, CT

Died:
January 27, 2015
Hingham, MA


Career
1939-40 Stonington High School - Connecticut (High School)
1940-41 Stonington High School - Connecticut (High School)
1941-42 Stonington High School - Connecticut (High School)
1943-44 University of Rhode Island (College)
1944-45 University of Rhode Island (College)
1945-46 University of Rhode Island (College)
1946-47 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)

1949-50 Middletown Guards (EBL-CT)

Bob was born to Sebastian and Marguerite. He went to Stonington HS, where he played football and basketball (despite having never played basketball before). He starred at URI and after graduating, he played with the Steamrollers, where he scored the first points against the Celtics in NBA history. Shea taught social studies back at Stonington for 35 years, retiring in 1984.

He married Elaine Cox on September 21, 1946, and they had one son and three daughters.

Source:
Obituary
Rhode Island Athletics


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sheabo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=sheabo01

Earl Shannon

Earl Francis Shannon


Born:
November 23, 1921
Providence, RI

Died:
July 8, 2002
Warwick, RI


Career
1936-37 Pawtucket High School (High School)
1937-38 Pawtucket High School (High School)
1938-39 Pawtucket High School (High School)
1939-40 University of Rhode Island (College) Freshmen
1940-41 University of Rhode Island (College)
1941-42 University of Rhode Island (College)
1942-43 University of Rhode Island (College)
1946-47 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1947-48 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 Boston Celtics (BAA)
1949-50 Meriden Sons of Italy (EBL-Ct)
1950-51 Meriden Sons of Italy (EBL-Ct)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)
1952-53 Providence (APBL)
University of Rhode Island (College) Head coach - freshmen team
University of Rhode Island (College) Head coach - freshmen team
University of Rhode Island (College) Head coach - freshmen team
University of Rhode Island (College) Head coach - freshmen team
University of Rhode Island (College) Head coach - freshmen team
University of Rhode Island (College) Head coach - freshmen team
University of Rhode Island (College) Head coach - freshmen team
Providence College (College) Assistant coach
1963-64 Bryant College (College) Head coach

Born in Providence to Tom and Madeline Shannon, Earl attended Pawtucket High School and later URI. After graduation, Earl entered the U.S. Army where he served in the Air Corps in the European Theater of World War 2. He returned home to play basketball professionally for Providence an Boston before rejoining the military for the Korean War. He served as an assistant coach as well as a head coach for URI, Providence and Bryant, as well as working for the FBI, a fraud and arson investigator, head of security at URI, and as a fire marshal for Rhode Island.

In July of 2002, Shannon suffered a heart attack while golfing and died a short time later.

He was married to Susan Jackson and they had three daughters.



Source:
Rhode Island Athletics
Newport Mercury, November 21, 1952
Warwick Online Obituary

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/shannea01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=shannea01

Ben Scharnus

Ben Michael "Whitey" Scharnus


Born:
December 11, 1917
Newark, NJ

Died:
March 19, 1982
Stevensville, MD


Career
1935-36 Newark Iron Dukes (Independent)
1936-37 Newark Iron Dukes (Independent)
1937-38 Newark Iron Dukes (Independent)
1938-39 Newark Iron Dukes (Independent)
1939-40 Seton Hall University (College)
1940-41 Seton Hall University (College)
1941-42 Seton Hall University (College)
1942-43 Aberdeen Proving Grounds (military)
1943-44 Brooklyn Indians (ABL)
1943-44 Wilmington Blue Bombers (ABL)
1944-45 Baltimore Bullets (ABL)
1945-46 Baltimore Bullets (ABL)
1945-46 New York Gothams (ABL)  
1946-47 Cleveland Rebels (BAA)
1947-48 Brooklyn Gothams (ABL)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 Cohoes Mastadons (NYSL)

Scharnus went to Seton Hall and then served in the U.S. Army during World War 2. After a few seasons of pro ball, Scharnus got his Masters Degree from the University of Maryland and taught at Stevensville High School. He eventually wound up working for the U.S. Army again as a Special Service Officer at Fort Meade and Fort Eusitus.
He married Elaine Palmer on April 7, 1945, and they had four sons and two daughters.

Source:
Courier News (Bridgewater, NJ) November 8, 1935
Philadelphia Inquirer, February 28, 1943
Star-Democrat, March 22, 1982

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/scharbe01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=scharbe01

Kenny Sailors

Kenneth Lloyd Sailors


Born:
January 14, 1921
Bushnell, NE

Died:
January 30, 2016
Laramie, WY


Career
1936-37 Laramie High School - Wyoming (High School)
1937-38 Laramie High School - Wyoming (High School)
1938-39 Laramie High School - Wyoming (High School)
1940-41 University of Wyoming (College)
1941-42 University of Wyoming (College)
1942-43 University of Wyoming (College)
1945-46 University of Wyoming (College)
1946-47 Cleveland Rebels (BAA)
1947-48 Chicago Stags (BAA)
1947-48 Philadelphia Warriors (BAA)
1947-48 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1949-50 Denver Nuggets (NBA)
1950-51 Boston Celtics (NBA)
1950-51 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

Born in Nebraska to Edward and Cora Sailors, Kenny grew up on a farm in rural Wyoming. His parents divorced when Kenny was young, and he and his older brother, Bud, used to play basketball underneath a windmill on the farm when not working or at school. Sailors developed a jump shot during those games, which was in a time where basketball players never left their feet to shoot. His jump shot carried him to basketball stardom at Laramie HS, and on to the University of Wyoming where he lead the Cowboys to the 1943 NCAA championship. He entered the Marines follwing that season as World War 2 raged on. When conflict ended, he returned to Wyoming to finish his education, and then went on to play basketball professionally for 5 seasons.

Done with playing basketball, Sailors bought a ranch in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and served on the Wyoming legislature. As a Republican, he ran twice unsuccessfully for one of Wyoming's congressional seats and once for the United States Senate. In 1965, Sailors and his wife moved to Alaska and stayed there 30 years, coaching and teaching. In 1995, they moved to Idaho, and after his wife's death from Alzheimer's Disease, he returned to Laramie, where he lived the remainder of his life. Sailors suffered a massive heart attack in December of 2015, and died the next month at 95 years of age.

There are around 8 players who lay claim to inventing the jump shot, it is Sailor's technique that is the most widely-use and recognizable jump shot compared to the others.

He married Marilynne Corbin (1924-2002) in 1943 and they had two daughters and one son.

Source:
kennysailorsjumpshot.com
Washington Post Obituary
NY Times Obituary

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sailoke01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=sailoke01

Giff Roux

Gifford H. Roux


Born:
June 28, 1923
Bonne Terre, MO

Died:
August 19, 2011
Alton, IL


Career
1939-40 Wood River High School - Illinois (High School)
1940-41 Wood River High School - Illinois (High School)
1944-45 Port Charleston Coast Guard Five (military)
1946-47 St. Louis Bombers (BAA)
1947-48 St. Louis Bombers (BAA)
1948-49 St. Louis Bombers (BAA)
1948-49 Providence Steamrollers (BAA)
1950-51 Wood River Legion (Independent)

Roux graduated from Wood River HS in 1941, and enrolled at Kansas University. However, in November of 1941, we left school due to his father's illness. He served in the Coast Guard during World War 2, and played in the BAA for three seasons. Giff died in Alton in 2011.

He had one son and one daughter.

Source:
Alton Evening Telegraph, November 25, 1941
Alton Evening Telegraph, October 7, 1944
Alton Evening Telegraph, January 15, 1951

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/rouxgi01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=rouxgi01