Peach Basket Society: June 2017

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Joe Dolhon

Joseph Dolhon

Born:
July 9, 1927
Yonkers, NY

Died:
January 5, 1981
Yonkers, NY

Career
1943-44 Saunders Trade and Technical High School - Yonkers, NY (High School)
1944-45 Saunders Trade and Technical High School - Yonkers, NY (High School)
1946-47 NYU (College)
1947-48 NYU (College)
1948-49 NYU (College)
1949-50 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1950-51 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)

After two season with the Bullets, Dolhon was called to duty to serve in the Korean War. After the war he worked as a teacher in the New York School System. He was killed in an automobile accident in 1981.

Joe was married to Judith (d. 1958) and they had one son.

Source:
Obituary, NY Times, January 8, 1981

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dolhojo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=dolhojo01

Earl Dodd

Glenn Earl "Earl" Dodd

Born:
November 1, 1924
Wood River, IL

Died:
October 30, 2004
Alton, IL

Career
1939-40 Bethalto High School - Illinois (High School)
1940-41 Bethalto High School - Illinois (High School)
1941-42 East Alton-Wood River High School - Wood River, IL (High School)
1946-47 NE Missouri State Teachers College (College)
1947-48 NE Missouri State Teachers College (College)
1948-49 NE Missouri State Teachers College (College)
1949-50 Denver Nuggets (NBA)

After high school, Dodd served in the U.S. Army in Italy, receiving a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star. He went to NE Missouri State (now Truman State University) and after graduating, played one season for the Denver Nuggets. He later worked as a construction foreman and died of congestive heart failure in 2004.

He married Opal Walker (1926-2011) in 1951 and they had one daughter.

Source:
St Louis Post-Dispatch (MO), November 4, 2004

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/doddea01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=doddea01

Hook Dillon

John Turley "Hook" Dillon

Born:
January 8, 1924
Savannah, GA

Died:
January 18, 2004
Winston-Salem, NC

Career
Benedictine Military Academy - Savannah, GA (High School)

1945-46 University of North Carolina (College)
1946-47 University of North Carolina (College)
1947-48 University of North Carolina (College)
1948-49 Hooks Hosiery - North Carolina (Independent)
1949-50 Washington Capitols (NBA)

Dillon was born in Savannah, Georgia, and went to UNC where he was an all-American basketball player (he may have gone to Georgia Tech before UNC, but I haven't found real evidence.) After graduating, he took a job in the personnel department at Hooks Hosiery and later signed to play basketball with the Washington Capitols.

Hook married Joan in 1952 and they had four daughters and two sons.

Source:

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dilloho01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=dilloho01

Ray Corley

Raymond Charles Corley

Born:
January 14, 1928
Staten Island, NY

Died:
February 5, 2007
East Northport, NY

Career
1944-45 St. Peters High School - New York, NY (High School)
1945-46 Notre Dame (College)
1946-47 Georgetown University (College)
1947-48 Georgetown University (College)
1948-49 Georgetown University (College)
1949-50 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1950-51 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1950-51 Utica Pros (ABL)
1950-51 Tri-Cities Blackhawks (NBA)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1952-53 Elmira Colonels (ABL)

Many basketball encyclopedias say Ray is the brother of another pro basketball player, Ken Corley. This is not true. Ray is from New York, and Ken is from Oklahoma.

Born to Thomas and Mary Corley, Ray graduated from St. Peters in New York and enrolled at Notre Dame. After one year at Notre Dame, where he was on the basketball team, he followed coach Elmer Ripley to Georgetown when Ripley took the head coach job there. After three great seasons at Georgetown, Corley went on the play in the NBA and the ABL.

Ray married Stella Tarica had a set of twins and a set of triplets along their seven children.

Source:
http://www.hoyabasketball.com/features/top100/r_corley.htm

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/corlera01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=corlera01

Jack Coleman

Jack Lillard Coleman

Born:
May 23, 1924
Burgin, KY

Died:
December 8, 1997
Burgin, KY

Career
1940-41 Burgin High School - Kentucky (High School)
1941-42 Burgin High School - Kentucky (High School)
1942-43 Duke University (College)
1943-44 Great Lakes (Military)
1946-47 University of Louisville (College)
1947-48 University of Louisville (College)
1948-49 University of Louisville (College)
1949-50 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1950-51 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1951-52 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1952-53 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1953-54 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1954-55 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1955-56 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1955-56 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1956-57 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)
1957-58 St. Louis Hawks (NBA)

After graduating from Burgin HS, Coleman attended Duke for a year before entering the U.S. Navy for World War 2. He enrolled at Louisville after his discharge, and then played nine years in the NBA. After his basketball career, he ran a lumber yard for many years near Burgin, where he died in 1998.

Source:
Obit and Grave

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/colemja01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=colemja01

Leroy Chollet

Leroy Patrick Chollet

Born:
March 5, 1925
New Orleans, LA

Died:
June 10, 1998
Westlake, OH

Career
1942-43 Holy Cross - New Orleans, LA (High School)
1944-45 Loyola University - New Orleans (College)
1946-47 Canisius College (College)
1947-48 Canisius College (College)
1948-49 Canisius College (College)
1949-50 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1950-51 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1950-51 Utica Pros (ABL)
1951-52 Elmira Colonels (ABL)
1955-56 St. Edwards High School - Lakewood, OH (High School) Assistant coach
1956-57 St. Edwards High School - Lakewood, OH (High School) Head coach
1957-58 St. Edwards High School - Lakewood, OH (High School) Head coach
1958-59 St. Edwards High School - Lakewood, OH (High School) Head coach
1959-60 St. Edwards High School - Lakewood, OH (High School) Head coach

After graduating from high school, Chollet served in the navy during World War 2. He went to Loyola in New Orleans for a year, but after visiting his brother Hillary in New York where he was attending Cornell, Leroy decided to transfer to Canisius in Buffalo. He wound up being the first Canisius baskeball player to score 1000 point in his career and signed with the Syracuse Nationals after graduating. After a couple years with the Nationals and then two more seasons in the ABL, Chollet moved to Lakewood, Ohio, and took a job at St Edwards as a teacher and coach. He died from ALS in 1998.

Leroy was married to Barbara Knauss and they had two sons and a daughter.

Source:
Obituary, The Plain Dealer, June 14, 1998
Grave and Obit

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chollle01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=chollle01

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Joe Bradley

Joseph Loren Bradley

Born:
September 24, 1928
Hobart, OK

Died:
June 5, 1987
Enid, Oklahoma ??

Career
Cowden High School - Cowden, OK (High School)
1946-47 Oklahoma A&M (College)
1947-48 Oklahoma A&M (College)
1948-49 Oklahoma A&M (College)
1949-50 Chicago Stags (NBA)
1950-51 Louisville Alumnites (NPBL)

Joe served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

Source:

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bradljo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=bradljo01

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

Vince Boryla

Vincent Joseph Boryla

Born:
March 11, 1927
East Chicago, IL

Died:
March 27, 2016
Englewood, CO

Career
1942-43 Washington High School - East Chicago, IN (High School)
1943-44 Washington High School - East Chicago, IN (High School)
1944-45 Notre Dame (College) Freshmen
1945-46 Notre Dame (College)
1946-47 Denver Nuggets (ABL-AAU)
1947-48 University of Denver (College)
1948 United States (Olympics)
1948-49 University of Denver (College)
1949-50 New York Knicks (NBA)
1950-51 New York Knicks (NBA)
1951-52 New York Knicks (NBA)
1952-53 New York Knicks (NBA)
1953-54 New York Knicks (NBA)
1955-56 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1956-57 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1957-58 New York Knicks (NBA) Head coach
1967-68 Denver Nuggets (ABA) General manager
1968-69 Denver Nuggets (ABA) General manager
1969-70 Denver Nuggets (ABA) General manager
1970-71 Utah Stars (ABA) General manager
1971-72 Utah Stars (ABA) General manager
1972-73 Utah Stars (ABA) General manager
1973-74 Utah Stars (ABA) General manager
1974-75 Utah Stars (ABA) General manager
1975-76 Utah Stars (ABA) General manager
1983-84 Denver Nuggets (ABA) President / General manager
1984-85 Denver Nuggets (ABA) President / General manager
1985-86 Denver Nuggets (ABA) President / General manager
1986-87 Denver Nuggets (ABA) President / General manager

Born to Polish immigrants, Boryla went to Notre Dame before entering the U.S. Army following his sophomore year. He played amateur basketball in Denver while in the Army, since he was stationed in Colorado, and after his discharge, he returned to college but at the University of Denver. He was drafted by the Knicks and developed a hook shot to better match up his 6'5 frame against taller players like George Mikan. He starred for the Knicks for five seasons, and Boryla took over the head coaching job with the Knicks in February of 1956, and coached through the 57-58 season. He later became the GM for the Denver entry in the ABA as well as the Stars, and was also president of the Denver boxing club in the 1970's. He returned to the front office with the Nuggets, and was also very successful in the real estate business.

He married Catherine Brogan (d. 1988) and had three sons and a daughter. He later remarried to Mary Jo Stanbrough. One of his sons, Mike, played football for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Source:
Denver Post, December 24, 2011
Obituary

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/borylvi01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=borylvi01

Nelson Bobb

Nelson Samuel Bobb

Born:
February 25, 1924
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
December 8, 2003
Irvine, CA

Career
1940-41 West Philadelphia High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1941-42 West Philadelphia High School - Pennsylvania (High School)
1942-43 Temple University (College)
1946-47 Temple University (College)
1947-48 Temple University (College)
1948-49 Temple University (College)
1949-50 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1950-51 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1951-52 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1952-53 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)

1953-54 Pottsville Seltzer Bolognas (EPBL)

Bobb served in Pacific Theater with the Army Air Corps during World War 2, and played at Temple after the war. He went on to played four seasons for the Philadelphia Warriors. After playing basketball, he owned and operated his own insurance company.

Source:
Grave and Obit

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bobbne01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=bobbne01

Ralph Beard

Ralph Milton Beard, Jr.

Born:
December 2, 1927
Hardinsburg, KY

Died:
November 29, 2007
Louisville, KY

Career
1943-44 Male High School - Louisville, KY (High School)
1944-45 Male High School - Louisville, KY (High School)
1945-46 University of Kentucky (College)
1946-47 University of Kentucky (College)
1947-48 University of Kentucky (College)
1948 United States (Olympics)
1948-49 University of Kentucky (College)
1949-50 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1950-51 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1952-53 Jersey City Titans (Independent)

A star at UK, Beard moved on to the NBA, playing for the Olympians and being named to play in the league's first All-Star Game. However, as the 1951-52 season approached its start, he was named along with many other players to be involved in point-shaving while in college. This was huge scandal that brought down CCNY, the NIT and NCAA winner in 1950. Beard, along with fellow Wildcats Alex Groza and Dale Barnstable, were accused of shaving points at UK. Beard contended that he never shaved points but did indeed take the gambler's money. The three Wildcats pleaded guilty and were given suspended sentences. Beard and Groza, teammates on the Olympians, were banned for life by the NBA.
Beard worked for many years as a pharmaceutical executive for many years, dying in 2007.

Ralph was married to Bettye Scott in 1955 and they had two sons.

Source:
Obituary, Courier-Journal, November 30, 2007
NY Times Obituary, November 30, 2007

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/beardra01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=beardra01

Ed Bartels

Edward John Bartels

Born:
October 8, 1925
New York, NY

Died:
November 4, 2007
Killingworth, CT

Career
1942-43 LaSalle Academy - New York City (High School)
1943-44 LaSalle Academy - New York City (High School)
1946-47 North Carolina State University (College)
1947-48 North Carolina State University (College)
1948-49 North Carolina State University (College)
1949-50 Denver Nuggets (NBA)
1949-50 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1949-50 New York Knicks (NBA)
1950-51 Utica Pros (ABL)
1950-51 Washington Capitols (NBA)
1950-51 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1950-51 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1951-52 Scranton Miners (ABL)
1951-52 Wilkes-Barre Barons (ABL)
1951-52 Bridgeport Roesslers (ABL)
1952-53 Pawtucket Slaters (ABL)
1952-53 Middletown Guards (ABL)
1952-53 Manchester British Americans (ABL)
1952-53 Scranton Miners (ABL)

Ed was born to Edward and Emily Bartels in New York City. He served in the U.S. Army in World War 2 and then played basketball at NC State. He played two seasons in the NBA.

Ed married Maureen McCormick in 1956 and they had three sons and two daughters.

Source:
Hartford Courant, November 8, 2007

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barteed01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=barteed01

Leo Barnhorst

Leo Alphonse Barnhorst

Born:
May 11, 1924
Indianapolis, IN

Died:
August 25, 2000
Indianapolis, IN

Career
1940-41 Cathedral High School - Indianapolis, IN (High School)
1941-42 Cathedral High School - Indianapolis, IN (High School)
1946-47 Notre Dame (College)
1947-48 Notre Dame (College)
1948-49 Notre Dame (College)
1949-50 Chicago Stags (NBA)
1949-50 Harlem Globetrotters (Independent)
1950-51 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1951-52 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1952-53 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1953-54 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)

Barnhorst graduated from high school before entering the U.S. Army during World War 2. After the war, he attended Notre Dame, starring on the basketball team. He would go on to enjoy a four-year career in the NBA where he was a two-time All-Star. First playing with the Stags, he was sold to the Olympians after the Stags folded. Leo spent three years with the Olympians until they, too, ceased operations. He played one more year, splitting the season between Baltimore and Fort Wayne. After his playing days, he worked for many years as an insurance agent. Leo endured lymphoma for many years before finally succumbing to the disease in 2000.
Leo was married to Shirley Freihage (1926-2011) and they had three sons and a daughter.

Source:
Notre Dame Article
Indianapolis Star, December 4, 1951
Indianapolis Star, August 27, 2000

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barnhle01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=barnhle01

Cliff Barker

Clifford Eugene Barker

Born:
January 15, 1921
Yorktown, IN

Died:
March 17, 1998
Satsuma, FL

Career
1937-38 Yorktown High School - Indiana (High School)
1938-39 Yorktown High School - Indiana (High School)
1940-41 Yorktown Christian - Indiana (Independent)
1946-47 University of Kentucky (College)
1947-48 University of Kentucky (College)
1948 United States (Olympics)
1948-49 University of Kentucky (College)
1949-50 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1950-51 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1951-52 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)

Born to Horace and Gertrude Barker, in Yorktown, Indiana, Cliff went to UK, but after his freshman year, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. As a gunner in the Air Corps, his B17 was shot down and Barker served as a POW for 16 months. He had a volleyball in the prison camp, and would dribble the ball to keep both his dribbling skills and his sanity. After the war, he returned to UK and was a member of the UK Fabulous Five squad. He also represented the United States in the 1948 Olympics, winning a gold medal as a member of the basketball team. He played for three years on the Olympians of Indianapolis, first as a player / coach and then as just a player after being relieved of coaching duties. After playing he would go to teach and coach for many years.

He married Meredith Morrow (1923-2001) in 1943 and they had one daughter.

Source:

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/barkecl01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=barkecl01

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

1949-50 NBA

On August 3, 1949, the owners and management of the BAA and NBL met to discuss plans of a merger. After a three-year competition, the two most prominent leagues in the Midwest and East had battled over fans and players. The BAA had the more stable organization, and took on NBL teams and the others either disbanded, played independently or joined lesser leagues.

The BAA is recognized by the NBA as being the beginning of the league, and BAA stats are counted in official NBA historical statistics. The NBL stats are not, and players who played in only the NBL are not recognized by the NBA Players Association as being NBA alumni.

Initially, the NBA was to have four divisions and 18 teams. However, the Milwaukee team (allegedly was to be the Oshkosh All-Stars after relocating - source needed) withdrew, so the league went with 17 teams and three divisions. (Listed below, with the 1948-49 league affiliation in parentheses)

Central Division:
Rochester Royals (BAA)
Minneapolis Lakers (BAA)
Chicago Stags (BAA)
Fort Wayne Pistons (BAA)
St. Louis Bombers (BAA)

Eastern Division:
Syracuse Nationals (NBL)
New York Knicks (BAA)
Washington Capitols (BAA)
Philadelphia Warriors (BAA)
Baltimore Bullets (BAA)
Boston Celtics (BAA)

Western Division:
Indianapolis Olympians (new team, replacing BAA's Indianapolis Jets)
Anderson Packers (NBL)
Tri-Cities Blackhawks (NBL)
Sheboygan Redskins (NBL)
Waterloo Hawks (NBL)
Denver Nuggets (NBL)

Monday, June 26, 2017

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)