Stan Weber

Stanley Ray Weber


Born:
July 28, 1925
Pettssville, OH

Died:
January 8, 2011
Rossford, OH


Career
1946-47 Bowling Green State University (College)
1947-48 Bowling Green State University (College)
1948-49 Bowling Green State University (College)
1949-50 Bowling Green State University (College)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1951-52 Toledo Mercuries (Independent)

Born in Pettisville, Ohio, to Andrew and Inez Weber, Stan and the family moved to German Ohio around 1930, and Stan joined in the U.S. Army after high school. He served in Hawaii during World War 2 as a cook. Returning from the war, Weber went to Bowling Green wher ehe played basketball. He was drafted by the Knicks in 1950, but chose to play for the Waterloo club in the NPBL. After the league folded, he joined the Toledo Mercuries, who were a touring opponent of the Harlem Globetrotters. After a year on tour, he returned to Ohio and worked for many years as a teacher and coach in Rossford, Ohio.

He married Avelda "Dolly" Johnson (1926-2016) in 1948 and they had two sons and a daughter.

Source:
Grave and Obit

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=weberst01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/stan-weber/

Bob Vollers

Robert Charles Vollers


Born:
May 15, 1928
Keokuk, IA

Died:
February 4, 1978
Minneapolis. MN


Career
1943-44 Keokuk High School - Iowa (High School)
1944-45 Keokuk High School - Iowa (High School)
1945-46 Keokuk High School - Iowa (High School)
1946-47 University of Iowa (College) Freshmen
1947-48 University of Iowa (College)
1948-49 University of Iowa (College)
1949-50 University of Iowa (College)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)

Born to Charles and Christina Vollers, Bob grew up in Keokuk, Iowa, and went to the University of Iowa. He played for the Waterloo Hawks in the NPBL. Bob was 49 years old when he died in 1978.

He and his wife, Kaye, had two daughters.

Source:


Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=vollebo01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/bob-vollers/

Chuck Share

Charles Edward Share


Born:
March 14, 1927
Akron, OH

Died:
June 7, 2012
Chesterfield, MO


Career
1945-46 Western Hills High School - Cincinnati (High School)
1946-47 Bowling Green State University (College)
1947-48 Bowling Green State University (College)
1948-49 Bowling Green State University (College)
1949-50 Bowling Green State University (College)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1951-52 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1954-55 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1955-56 St Louis Hawks (NBA)
1956-57 St Louis Hawks (NBA)

1957-58 St Louis Hawks (NBA)

1958-59 St Louis Hawks (NBA)

1959-60 St Louis Hawks (NBA)

1959-60 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)

Share was the first pick overall in the 1950 NBA draft, selected by the Boston Celtics, but Share chose to play with the Waterloo Hawks in the NPBL instead. After the league collapsed, Share had his NBA property rights with the Celtics transferred to the Fort Wayne Pistons. In December of 1953, the Pistons sent him to the Milwaukee Hawks for Max Zaslofsky. He spent seven seasons with the Hawks, following them when the team relocated to St. Louis. Share was an important part of the 1958 NBA Champion Hawks, and was one of the more popular players on the squad. He was dealt to the Lakers on February 15, 1960 in exchange for Larry Foust, and initially refused to go and was going to quite the game, but he reconsidered and went to Minneapolis in time for the playoffs. At the end of the season, he retired from the game for good..

He started a corrugated container company whichi he sold in 1985, and then he and his wife purchased a farm. Share was 85 when he died in 2012 following a brief illness.

He and his wife, Rose, had two daughters.


Source:
St Louis Post-Dispatch, June 10, 2012
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/celtics-no-1-pick-draft-1950-didn-article-1.3172878

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sharech01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=sharech01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/chuck-share/

Claude Overton

Claudell S. Overton


Born:
December 16, 1927
Temple, OK

Died:
April 29, 1996
Norman, OK


Career
McAlester High School - Oklahoma (High School)
1946-47 East Central Oklahoma (College)
1947-48 East Central Oklahoma (College)
1948-49 East Central Oklahoma (College)
1949-50 East Central Oklahoma (College)
1949-50 College All-Stars (Independent)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1955-56 Edmond Memorial High School - Oklahoma (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Bacone Junior College - Muskogee, Oklahoma (College) Head coach
1957-58 Bacone Junior College - Muskogee, Oklahoma (College) Head coach
1958-59 Bacone Junior College - Muskogee, Oklahoma (College) Head coach
1959-60 Bacone Junior College - Muskogee, Oklahoma (College) Head coach

Claude was a baseball and basketball player at East Central Oklahoma, and played minor league baseball in the the Sooner League in 1948 and 1949. Overton was drafted by the Washington Capitols but did not make the team. He played for the Waterloo Hawks and the Wilkes-Barre Barons in 1950-51, and finally made the NBA in 1952 when he signed with the Philadephia Warriors.

Minor League Baseball Stats
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=overto001cla

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/overtcl01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=overtcl01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/claude-overton/

Buckshot O'Brien

Ralph Eugene "Buckshot" O'Brien


Born:
April 28, 1928
Henshaw, KY

Died:
August 22, 2018
Clearwater Beach, FL


Career
1943-44 George Washington High School - Indianapolis (High School)
1946-47 Butler University (College)
1947-48 Butler University (College)
1948-49 Butler University (College)
1949-50 Butler University (College)
1950-51 Grand Rapids Hornets (NPBL)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1951-52 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1952-53 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1952-53 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1953-54 Indianapolis / Noblesville Mercuries (Indiana Pro Basketball Assoc) Head Coach / Player


The youngest of 13 children, O'Brien set scoring records at Butler before embarking on a professional basketball career. First playing with the Hornets in the NPBL, his contract was reassigned to Waterloo when the Grand Rapids club folded. That summer, with the NPBL being dead, O'Brien headed back home to Indianapolis, signing with the Olympians. In January of 1953, O'Brien was waived and picked up by the Fort Wayne Pistons. His time in Fort Wayne was short, because on February 17, 1953, Fort Wayne traded him along with Jack Kerris and cash to Baltimore for Freddie Scolari and Don Boven. He later worked as an insurance salesman.

Source:
Indianapolis News, December 19, 1982

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/obriera01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=obriera01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/ralph-obrien/

Joe Nelson

Joseph Arthur Nelson


Born:
March 16, 1927 
Richfield, UT

Died:
July 20, 2009
Payson, UT


Career
1944-45 Spanish Fork High School - Utah (High School)
1946-47 Brigham Young University (College)
1947-48 Brigham Young University (College)
1948-49 Brigham Young University (College)
1949-50 Brigham Young University (College)
1949-50 College All-Stars (Independent)
1950-51 St. Paul Lights (NPBL)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)

A graduate of Spanish Fork HS, where he played football and basketball, and also ran track, Nelson joined the army right out of high school. He returned to BYU after his service, and signed with St. Paul of the NPBL after graduating. When St. Paul folded, his contract was reassigned to Waterloo.

He returned to Utah where he too a job at Dugway Proving Ground for a bit before landing at USS Geneva Steel, where he stayed for 31 years.

He married Phyllis Mae White (1929-2004) in 1949 and they had two daughters and a son.

Source:
Obituary


Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=nelsojo01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/joe-nelson/

Hal Haskins

Harold Francis Haskins


Born:
October 29, 1924
Page, ND

Died:
May 31, 2003
St. Paul. MN


Career
1941-42 Alexandria High School - Minnesota (High School)
1942-43 Alexandria High School - Minnesota (High School)
1946-47 Hamline University (College)
1947-48 Hamline University (College)
1948-49 Hamline University (College)
1949-50 Hamline University (College)
1950-51 St. Paul Lights (NPBL)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)

After graduating from Alexandria HS, Hal joined the U.S. Navy where he served his country during World War 2. After the war, he enrolled at Hamline where he lead the school to the NAIA all four years, including the title in 1949. He signed with the St. Paul Lights in the NPBL, and when they folded, he was moved over to the Waterloo Hawks. He returned to St Paul where he worked as a teacher and a coach for 30 years.

He married Cheris Otte in 1949 and they had one son and one daughter.

Source:
Obituary, Star Tribune (Minnpls), June 4, 2003
Grave and Obit

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=haskiha01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/hal-haskins/

Ed Dahler

Edward Christian Dahler, Jr.


Born:
January 31, 1926
Rosemond, IL

Died:
March 26, 2012
Hillsboro, IL


Career
1942-43 Hillsboro High School - Illinois (High School)
1943-44 Hillsboro High School - Illinois (High School)
1946-47 Duquesne University (College)
1947-48 Duquesne University (College)
1948-49 Duquesne University (College)
1949-50 Duquesne University (College)
1950-51 Denver Refiners (NPBL)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1951-52 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)

After graduating from Hillsboro, Dahler served his country in the U.S. Army. After World War 2, he became the first player at Duquesne to score 1000 points in his basketball career. He signed with the Denver Refiners of the NPBL, and went over to the Waterloo Hawks after the Denver club folded. He signed with the Philadelphia Warriors in the NBA for the next season, his last as a professional player. He returned to Hillsboro to become a teacher, coach and school administrator.

He married Bliss McLain in 1953 and the had four daughters and one son. Following Bliss' passing in 1977, He remarried to Jane Walters in 1981.


Source:
Obituary

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dahleed01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=dahleed01

Buddy Cate

William Boyd "Buddy" Cate


Born:
May 23, 1926
Ringgold, GA

Died:
February 7, 2011
Bowling Green, KY


Career
1941-42 Bradley High School - Cleveland, TN (High School)
1942-43 Bradley High School - Cleveland, TN (High School)
1943-44 Bradley High School - Cleveland, TN (High School)
1946-47 Western Kentucky University (College)
1947-48 Western Kentucky University (College)
1948-49 Western Kentucky University (College)
1949-50 Western Kentucky University (College)
1950-51 Sheboygan Redskins (NPBL)
1950-51 Grand Rapids Hornets (NPBL)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1958-59 Tennessee Wesleyan College (College) Head coach
1959-60 Tennessee Wesleyan College (College) Head coach
1960-61 Tennessee Wesleyan College (College) Head coach
1961-62 Tennessee Wesleyan College (College) Head coach
1962-63 Tennessee Wesleyan College (College) Head coach
1963-64 Tennessee Wesleyan College (College) Head coach
1964-65 Tennessee Wesleyan College (College) Head coach
1965-66 Tennessee Wesleyan College (College) Head coach
1966-67 Tennessee Wesleyan College (College) Head coach 
1967-68 Kentucky Colonels (ABA) Assistant coach
1969-70 Warren East High School - Louisville  (High School) Head coach
1970-71 Warren East High School - Louisville  (High School) Head coach

Born to Joseph and Rena Cate, Cate grew up in Cleveland, Tennessee, and after graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Army and served in the South Pacific. After the war, he enrolled at Western Kentucky, where he letterd for four season. Cate was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1950, but signed with the Sheboygan Redskins. He played two games with the Sheboygans before being waived on November 14, 1950. He was claimed by the Grand Rapids Hornets and stayed with the club until they folded at the end of December, 1950. In a draft where the remaining teams took players from the defunct squads, Cate was selected by Kansas City. He signed with the club in January but was quickly sold to Waterloo before even suiting up for the Hi-Spots. He went on to coach high school basketball in Alabama (not sure where) before taking a coaching job at a Tennessee high school. In November of 1953, Cate signed with the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA, but he did not make the team. He would go on to coach at Tennessee Wesleyan, and then was an assistant coach for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA.


Buddy was married to Joy David (d. 2013) and they left a lot of their $600,000 estate to various charities and also set up a scholarship at WKU.

Source:
Obituary, BG Daily News, February 9, 2011
BG Daily News, December 10, 2014

Stats:
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=catebu01

1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)

1950-51 WATERLOO HAWKS
NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE
Western Division
Finished: 32-24 .571, 1st place

• Head Coach: Jack Smiley (December 22, 1922 - July 30, 2000)

PLAYERS:

• Don Boven (March 6, 1925 - March 10, 2011)

Biography

• Buddy Cate (May 23, 1926 - February 7, 2011)

Biography

• Ed Dahler (January 31, 1926 - March 26, 2012)

Biography 

• Hal Haskins (October 29, 1924 - May 31, 2003)

Biography

• Leo Kubiak (b. December 25, 1926)

Biography

• Elmo Morgenthaler (August 3, 1922 - November 25, 1997)

Biography

• Joe Nelson (March 16, 1927 - July 20, 2009)

Biography

• Buckshot O'Brien (April 28, 1928 - August 22, 2018)

Biography

• Mac Otten (December 16, 1925 - December 26, 2015)

Biography

• Claude Overton (December 16, 1927 - April 29, 1996)

Biography

• Johnny Payak (November 20, 1926 - February 27, 2009)

Biography

• Wayne See (November 3, 1923 - July 22, 2019)

Biography 

• Chuck Share (March 14, 1927 - June 7, 2012)

Biography

• Jack Smiley (December 22, 1922 - July 30, 2000)

Biography

• Bob Vollers (May 15, 1928 - February 4, 1978)

Biography

• Stan Weber (July 28, 1925 - January 8, 2011)

Biography

• Murray Wier (December 12, 1926 - April 6, 2016)

Biography

Wayne See

Marshall Wayne See


Born:
November 3, 1923
Camp Verde, AZ

Died:
July 22, 2019
Camp Verde, AZ


Career
1940-41 Camp Verde High School - Arizona (High School)
1941-42 Arizona State College - Flagstaff, AZ (College) now Northern Arizona University.
1946-47 Arizona State College - Flagstaff, AZ (College) now Northern Arizona University.
1947-48 Arizona State College - Flagstaff, AZ (College) now Northern Arizona University.
1948-49 Arizona State College - Flagstaff, AZ (College) now Northern Arizona University.
1949-50 Waterloo Hawks (NBA)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)

Born to Henry and Ida See in Arizona, See started college at Arizona State College in Flagstaff (now Northern Arizona) before leaving school to help with the war effort. He worked as a brick mason, blacksmith and miner before joining the USMC. He returned to school after the war, and after played two seasons with the Waterloo Hawks. After, he returned to Camp Verde where he ran a bar and restaurant. He would eventually get into teaching and coaching, taking a job in 1956 at Camp Verde HS. He retired in 1986

He and his wife, Edna Mulnix, had two daughters.

Source:
Verde (Ariz.) News, February 11, 2008

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/seewa01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=seewa01
http://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/wayne-see/

John Pritchard

John David Pritchard


Born:
January 23, 1927
Minneapolis, MN

Died:
August 3, 2012
Fridley, MN


Career
1943-44 South High School - Minneapolis (High School)
1944-45 South High School - Minneapolis (High School)
1945-46 Drake University (College)
1946-47 Drake University (College)
1947-48 Drake University (College)
1948-49 Drake University (College)
1949-50 Waterloo Hawks (NBA)
1950-51 Washington Generals (Independent)
1951-52 The Qualities - Minneapolis (Independent)
1951-52 Norwegians - Minneapolis (Independent)
1954-55 Tony Jaros - Minneapolis (Independent)

Born in Minneapolis to Owen and Margaret Pritchard. The 6'8 Pritchard played basketball at South High School before playing at Drake. He played one season for the Waterloo Hawks in the NBA, at least one year with the Harlem Globetrotters' opponent, the Washington Generals, and then multiple seasons in various Minneapolis church and municipal leagues. Later in life, he worked for years at a warehouse for Sears.


He married Patricia Engstrom (1929-1970) in 1951 and they had four sons and one daughter. Widowed in 1970, Pritchard remarried in 1978 to Lynn.

Source:
Obituary, Star Tribune

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/pritcjo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=pritcjo01

Jack Phelan

John Edward "Jack" Phelan


Born:
November 6, 1925
Chicago, IL

Died:
March 20, 2021
Bradenton, FL


Career
1942-43 St. Michaels at Chicago, IL (High School)
1943-44 DePaul University (College)
1944-45 DePaul University (College)
1947-48 DePaul University (College)
1948-49 DePaul University (College)
1949-50 Waterloo Hawks (NBA)
1949-50 Sheboygan Redskins (NBA)
1951-52 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1952-53 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1953-54 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1954-55 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)

Phelan went to DePaul, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy after a couple years there. He returned to DePaul after his service and finished his career there. After leaving DePaul, Phelan signed with the Hammond / Calumet Buccaneers of the NBL, but the league merged shortly thereafter the the BAA, and Hammond was disbanded and Phelan was reassigned to the Waterloo Hawks. He was released by the Hawks and signed with the Sheboygan Redskins on December 16, 1949.

He later worked as a salesman for many years at Nalco Chemical.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/phelaja01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=phelaja01

Johnny Payak

John Payak, Jr.


Born:
November 20, 1926
Rossford, OH

Died:
February 27, 2009
Toledo, OH


Career
1941-42 Woodward High School - Toledo, OH (High School)
1942-43 Woodward High School - Toledo, OH (High School)
1943-44 Woodward High School - Toledo, OH (High School)
1946-47 Bowling Green State University (College)
1947-48 Bowling Green State University (College)
1948-49 Bowling Green State University (College)
1949-50 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1949-50 Waterloo Hawks (NBA)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1951-52 Toledo Mercuries (Independent)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

Payak signed with the Warriors in April of 1949, not long after finishing up at BGSU. On December 28, 1949, the Warriors sold Payak to the Waterloo Hawks for the waiver price. He played with the Hawks the rest of the season and stayed with them when the team left the NBA and helped form the NPBL. After a season with the Toledo Mercuries, he returned to the NBA with the Milwaukee Hawks in 1952.

Later became a basketball official in his home state of Ohio.

Source:
Philadelphia Inquirer, April 22, 1949
Philadelphia Inquirer, December 29, 1949


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/payakjo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=payakjo01

Mac Otten

Mac William Otten


Born:
December 16, 1925
Bellefontaine, OH

Died:
December 26, 2015
Dayton, OH


Career
Bellefontaine High School - Ohio (High School)
1943-44 Bowling Green State University - Ohio (College)
1946-47 Bowling Green State University - Ohio (College)
1947-48 Bowling Green State University - Ohio (College)
1948-49 Bowling Green State University - Ohio (College)
1949-50 Tri-Cities Blackhawks (NBA)
1949-50 St. Louis Bombers (NBA)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)

Born to Cordt and Ruth Otten, Mac graduated from Bellefontaine HS at enrolled at Bowling Green. He started on the basketball team, but World War 2 got in the way as Mac served in the U.S. Navy. After returning to BGSU, he went on to play two seasons in the NBA, including time with Tri-Cities with his older brother, Don Otten. He left basketball and worked for many years as an accountant.

He was married twice and had six children.

Source:
Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame
Obituary, Dayton Daily News, January 3, 2016

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/ottenma01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=ottenma01

Johnny Orr

John Michael Orr


Born:
June 10, 1927
Taylorville, IL

Died:
December 31, 2013
Des Moines, IA


Career
1942-43 Taylorville High School - Illinois (High School)
1943-44 Taylorville High School - Illinois (High School)
1944-45 University of Illinois (College)
1946-47 Beloit College (College)
1947-48 Beloit College (College)
1948-49 Beloit College (College)
1949-50 St. Louis Bombers (NBA)
1949-50 Waterloo Hawks (NBA)

1950-51 Fond du Lac Rockets (WSBL)
1951-52 Dubuque High School - Iowa (High School) Head coach
1952-53 Dubuque High School - Iowa (High School) Head coach
1953-54 Dubuque High School - Iowa (High School) Head coach
1954-55 Dubuque High School - Iowa (High School) Head coach
1955-56 Dubuque High School - Iowa (High School) Head coach
1956-57 Dubuque High School - Iowa (High School) Head coach
1957-58 Dubuque High School - Iowa (High School) Head coach
1958-59 Dubuque High School - Iowa (High School) Head coach
1959-60 University of Wisconsin (College) Assistant coach
1960-61 University of Wisconsin (College) Assistant coach
1961-62 University of Wisconsin (College) Assistant coach
1962-63 University of Wisconsin (College) Assistant coach
1963-64 University of Massachusetts (College) Head coach
1964-65 University of Massachusetts (College) Head coach
1965-66 University of Massachusetts (College) Head coach   
1966-67 University of Michigan (College) Assistant coach
1968-69 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1969-70 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1970-71 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1971-72 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1972-73 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1973-74 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1974-75 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1975-76 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1976-77 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1977-78 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1978-79 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1979-80 University of Michigan (College) Head coach
1980-81 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1981-82 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1982-83 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1983-84 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1984-85 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1985-86 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1986-87 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1987-88 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1988-89 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1989-90 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1990-91 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1991-92 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1992-93 Iowa State University (College) Head coach
1993-94 Iowa State University (College) Head coach   

Born to Bert and Ann Orr, Johnny went to Taylorsville High School where the basketball team won the state title. He went to the University of Illinois but joined the Navy after his freshman season. The war end and Orr was discharged after 15 months. He wound up going to Beloit College when he returned home from the war, and was then drafted by the St. Louis Bombers of the NBA. He signed for $6000 and played half a season before moving to the Waterloo Hawks. Done with playing, he headed into coaching, taking over the Senior HS squad in Dubuque. After eight seasons, he moved on to take an assistant coaching job at Wisconsin, and then took the head coaching job at UMass. He was able to head to the midwest after three seasons at UMass, taking a assistant coaching job at Michigan and a year later, assumed the head coaching job.

While at Michigan, Orr won 209 games as head coach and was one of the more popular figures on campus. Despite his success, in 1980, Orr shocked Michgan by taking the Iowa State job. The Cyclones had six losing seasons prior to Orr's hiring, but in a few short seasons he turned the program around. ISU made the NCAA Tournament field six time in the 14 seasons he was there. He retired in August of 1994, and died in 2013 a few days after injuring himself in a bad fall.

He married Romie in 1949 had they four daughters.

Source:
M Live Obituary, December 31, 2013
Obituary, USA Today, December 31, 2013

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/orrjo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=orrjo01

Gene Ollrich

Eugene William "Gene" "Moe" Ollrich


Born:
June 30, 1922
Hammond, IN

Died:
June 16, 2008
San Luis Obispo, CA


Career

1937-38 Thornton Fractional High School - Calumet City, IL (High School)
1938-39 Thornton Fractional High School - Calumet City, IL (High School)
1939-40 Thornton Fractional High School - Calumet City, IL (High School)
1940-41 Les Kelley - Indiana (Independent)
1942-43 Drake University (College)
1946-47 Drake University (College)
1947-48 Drake University (College)
1948-49 Drake University (College)
1949-50 Waterloo Hawks (NBA)

Ollrich's time at Drake was interrupted by the U.S. Army during World War 2. After the war, he finished at Drake and played one season in the NBA with the Hawks.

He was married to Mildred Hines (1927-1988)

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/ollrige01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=ollrige01

Al Miksis

Albert Charles Miksis


Born:
February 2, 1928
Chicago, IL

Died:
February 4, 2012
Elk Grove, IL


Career
1943-44 Harper High School - Chicago (High School)
1945-46 Western Illinois (College)
1946-47 Western Illinois (College)
1947-48 Western Illinois (College)
1948-49 Western Illinois (College)
1949-50 Waterloo Hawks (NBA)
1950-51 Grand Rapids Hornets (NPBL)

After graduating from Harper High School, Miksis the 6'6 Miksis then played at Western Illinois, and on April 1, 1949, was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers. However, Miksis preferred to stay close to his Chicago home and signed with the Hammond Calumet Buccaneers of the NBL in May of 1949. However, shortly thereafter the Buccaneers were absorbed by the Waterloo Hawks, and on August 3, 1949, the NBL / BAA merger occurred and Waterloo was one of the six NBL teams to join the NBA. Miksis signed with Grand Rapids in the NPBL the following year, and after that he returned to the Chicago area where he become a phys-ed teacher in Ogden park as well as a football and basketball coach for youth groups.

He was married to Maureen Clarke 

A lot of sources have him confused with an Alfonse Miksis, but that is actually his brother. Western Illinois yearbooks list him as "Albert" and his photographs all match up. Newspaper trails show the Western Illinois star played with Waterloo and then went into teaching and coaching recreational leagues near Chicago. Not sure how Alfonse was listed as the ballplayer.

Source:
The Times (Munster, Indiana), May 23, 1949
Chicago Tribune, February 7, 2012

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/miksial01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=miksial01

Don Boven

Donald E. Boven


Born:
March 6, 1925
Kalamazo, MI

Died:
March 10, 2011
Kalamazo, MI


Career
1941-42 Kalamazoo Central High School - Michigan (High School)
1942-43 Kalamazoo Central High School - Michigan (High School)
1946-47 Western Michigan University (College)
1947-48 Western Michigan University (College)
1948-49 Western Michigan University (College)
1949-50 Waterloo Hawks (NBA)
1950-51 Waterloo Hawks (NPBL)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1958-59 Western Michigan University (College) Head coach
1959-60 Western Michigan University (College) Head coach
1960-61 Western Michigan University (College) Head coach
1961-62 Western Michigan University (College) Head coach
1962-63 Western Michigan University (College) Head coach
1963-64 Western Michigan University (College) Head coach
1964-65 Western Michigan University (College) Head coach
1965-66 Western Michigan University (College) Head coach

From Kalamazoo, Boven graduated high school and entered the military, serving his country in World War 2. He arrived at Omaha Beach in Normday two days after the initial invasion, and later saw battle at the Battle of the Bulge. After the war, he returned home at enrolled at Western Michigan, where he was a three-sport letterman (baseball, football and basketball). After graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Educaton, he signed with the Waterloo Hawks in the NBA, and remained on the team when the Hawks left the NBA and played in the NPBL. He returned to the NBA in 1951, this time with the Milwaukee Hawks, and after a season with the Pistons, returned to WMU as a teacher and coach. He was named the head coach of the basketball team in 1958, and was at the helm for 8 seasons. He remained at the school as an instructor until his retirement in 1985.

He married Charlotte Kniese (d. 2010)  in 1953 and they had two daughters and a son.


Source:
Obituary
MLive Obituary, March 14, 2011


Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bovendo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=bovendo01

1949-50 Waterloo Hawks (NBA)

1949-50 WATERLOO HAWKS
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Western Division
Finished: 19-43 .306, 5th place

• Head Coaches: 

Charley Shipp (January 7, 1914 - October 14, 1963) 8-27 - Also played (See below)
Jack Smiley  (December 22, 1922 - July 30, 2000) 11-16 - Also played (See below)


PLAYERS: 

• Don Boven (March 6, 1925 - March 10, 2011)

Biography

• Harry Boykoff (July 24, 1922 - February 20, 2001)

Biography

• Paul Cloyd (June 13, 1920 - December 28, 2005)

Biography

• Elmer Gainer (November 22, 1918 - September 29, 1970)

Biography

• Hoot Gibson (December 5, 1921 - February 1, 1958)

Biography

• Dale Hamilton (August 16, 1919 - August 12, 1994)

Biography

• Leo Kubiak (b. December 25, 1926)

Biography

• Dick Mehen (May 20, 1922 - December 14, 1986)

Biography

• Ken Menke (October 2, 1922 - September 2, 2002)

Biography

• Al Miksis (February 2, 1928 - February 4, 2012)

Biography

• Gene Ollrich (June 30, 1922 - June 16, 2008)

Biography

• Johnny Orr (June 10, 1927 - December 31, 2013)

Biography 

• Stan Patrick (May 5, 1922 - January 1, 2000)

Biography

• Johnny Payak (November 20, 1926 - February 27, 2009)

Biography

• Jack Phelan (November 6, 1925 - March 20, 2021)

Biography

• John Pritchard (January 23, 1927 - August 3, 2012)

Biography

• Wayne See (November 3, 1923 - July 22, 2019)

Biography 

• Charley Shipp (December 3, 1913 - March 21, 1988)

Biography

• Jack Smiley (December 22, 1922 - July 30, 2000)

Biography

• Gene Stump (August 9, 1925 - 2014)

Biography

• Bob Tough (August 28, 1920 - April 7, 1999)

Biography