Paul Walther

Paul Philip "Lefty" Walther


Born:
March 23, 1927
Covington, KY

Died:
December 21, 2014
Atlanta, GA


Career
1942-43 St. Xavier High School - Cincinnati (High School)
1943-44 St. Xavier High School - Cincinnati (High School)
1944-45 University of Tennessee (College)
1946-47 University of Tennessee (College)
1947-48 University of Tennessee (College)
1948-49 University of Tennessee (College)
1949-50 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1949-50 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1950-51 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1951-52 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1952-53 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1953-54 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1954-55 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)

Walther joined the U.S. Navy for World War 2 following his freshman season at Tennessee, and returned to school after his discharge. Drafted by the Lakers, he was officially sold to Indianapolis on December 20, 1949. He played for six seasons and was named to the NBA All-Star team in 1952. After his playing days, he moved to Chicago and worked a Merrill Lynch for 32 years before retiring.

Paul had seven children.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/walthpa01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=walthpa01

Ernie Vandeweghe

Ernest Maurice Vandeweghe, Jr.


Born:
September 12, 1928
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Died:
November 8, 2014
Laguna Beach, CA


Career
1944-45 Oceanside High School - New York (High School)
1945-46 Colgate University (College)
1946-47 Colgate University (College)
1947-48 Colgate University (College)
1948-49 Colgate University (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)

Born in Montreal, Vendeweghe grew up on Long Island, attending Oceanside High School where he played football, baseball and basketball. He attended Colgate before signing with the Knicks. While playing with the Knicks, Ernie was going to medical school, sometimes missing road games due to classes. Unlike other players, Vandeweghe was paid by the game due to his uncertainty on making it to games, but the Knicks were agreeable due to his skill as a player. Once he finished schooling, he served in the army as a doctor in Europe, and practiced as a pediatrician and in sports medicine out west. At one point, he was the team physician with the Lakers.

Dr. Vandeweghe married Colleen Kay Hutchins, Miss America 1952 and brother of Fort Wayne Pistons player Mel Hutchins. They had a family of athletes: Son Kiki played 13 years in the NBA, son Bruk played volleyball, daughter Tauna was a champion swimmer and daughter Heather captained the U.S. Women's Water Polo squad.

Source:
Obituary, ESPN
NY Times Obituary, November 9, 2014

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/v/vandeer01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=vandeer01

Carl Shaeffer

Carl Edgel Shaeffer


Born:
October 25, 1924
Delphi, IN

Died:
October 25, 1974
Delphi, IN


Career
1942-43 Delphi High School - Indiana (High School)
1945-46 University of Alabama (College)
1946-47 University of Alabama (College)
1947-48 University of Alabama (College)
1948-49 University of Alabama (College)
1949-50 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1950-51 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)

Born to Lee and Pauline Shaeffer, Carl planned on going to Indiana University, but shortly into his freshman year, he entered the army to serve his country in World War 2. Schaeffer reported missing in action on January 18, 1945 in Belgium, and was later found to be a prisoner of war. He was released by the Germans at the end of the war. He returned home, and enrolled at the University of Alabama. After a stellar four-year career with the Crimson Tide, he played two seasons with the Indianapolis Olympians.

Shaeffer, owner and operator of Shaef's Place, a local tavern in Brookston, Indiana, shot himself on his 50th birthday.

He married Mary Lee Zinn in 1945 and he had three sons and a daughter.

Source:
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), April 9, 1945
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), July 30, 1945
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, Indiana), October 26, 1974

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/shaefca01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=schaufr01

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/

Fred Schaus

Frederick Appleton Schaus


Born:
June 30, 1925
Newark, OH

Died:
February 10, 2010
Morgantown, WV


Career
1941-42 Newark High School - Ohio (High School)
1942-43 Newark High School - Ohio (High School)
1943-44 NATTC (Military)
1944-45 NATTC (Military)
1946-47 West Virginia University (College)
1947-48 West Virginia University (College)
1948-49 West Virginia University (College)
1949-50 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1950-51 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1951-52 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1952-53 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 Fort Wayne Pistons (NBA)
1953-54 New York Knicks (NBA)
1954-55 West Virginia University (College) Head coach
1955-56 West Virginia University (College) Head coach
1956-57 West Virginia University (College) Head coach 
1957-58 West Virginia University (College) Head coach
1958-59 West Virginia University (College) Head coach 
1959-60 West Virginia University (College) Head coach

1960-61 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) Head coach
1961-62 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) Head coach
1962-63 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) Head coach 
1963-64 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) Head coach
1964-65 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) Head coach 
1965-66 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) Head coach
1966-67 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) Head coach 
1967-68 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) General Manager  
1968-69 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) General Manager 
1969-70 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) General Manager 
1970-71 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) General Manager 
1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) General Manager 
1972-73 Purdue University (College) Head coach
1973-74 Purdue University (College) Head coach 
1974-75 Purdue University (College) Head coach
1975-76 Purdue University (College) Head coach 
1976-77 Purdue University (College) Head coach
1977-78 Purdue University (College) Head coach 

Growing up in Newark, Schaus enlisted in the U.S. Navy after graduating from high school, and was one of the highest scoring players in the military and headed to West Virginia University after the war. The first WVU player to score 1000 points, Schaus played for five seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Fort Wayne Pistons.
He retired as a player and took the head coach job at WVU. In six seasons there, his teams went 127-26 and made the NCAA tournament every year, losing in the 1959 NCAA Championship game by a single point to California. He wound up becoming the Lakers' first coach when the NBA franchise moved to Los Angeles, and after seven years left coaching for the General Manager job there. In 1972, he returned to the bench, taking the head coach gig at Purdue for six seasons. From 1981 to 1989, Schaus served as the Athletic Director at WVU.

He married Barbara Scherr and they had two sons.

Source:
Obituary, Purdue Sports
Obituary, Post-Gazette, February 13, 2010

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/schaufr01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=schaufr01

Marv Schatzman

Marvin Joseph Schatzman


Born:
February 18, 1927
St. Louis, MO

Died:
September 19, 2006
St. Louis, MO


Career
1942-43 Soldan High School - St. Louis, MO (High School)
1943-44 Soldan High School - St. Louis, MO (High School)
1944-45 Soldan High School - St. Louis, MO (High School)
1945-46 St. Louis University (College)
1946-47 St. Louis University (College)
1947-48 St. Louis University (College)
1948-49 St. Louis University (College)
1949-50 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1949-50 Lancaster Rockets (EPBL)

1950-51 Harrisburg Caps (EPBL)  

Schatzman was born and raised in St Louis, even going to college at SLU. He enlisted in the army after graduating from high school, but the war with Japan ended six weeks later and Schatzman wound up back in St Louis in time for basketball season. He signed with the Baltimore Bullets in the NBA and was let go at the end of January of 1950. He then joined Lancaster in the Eastern league in February of 1950.

He married Carol Schroeer in 1950 and they had five children.



Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/schatma01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=schatma01

Pep Saul

Frank Benjamin "Pep" Saul


Born:
February 16, 1924
West Orange, NJ

Died:
November 7, 2019
Livingston, NJ


Career
1939-40 Holy Trinity High School - Hackensack, NJ (High School)
1940-41 Holy Trinity High School - Hackensack, NJ (High School)
1941-42 Seton Hall Prep - Bergen County, NJ (High School)
1942-43 Seton Hall University (College)
1943-44 7th AAF (Military)
1944-45 7th AAF (Military)
1945-46 7th AAF (Military) 
1946-47 Seton Hall University (College)
1947-48 Seton Hall University (College)
1948-49 Seton Hall University (College)
1949-50 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1950-51 Rochester Royals (NBA)
1951-52 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1951-52 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1952-53 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1953-54 Minneapolis Lakers (NBA)
1954-55 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

Frank "Pep" Saul was born in New Jersey and starred in basketball and baseball at Holy Trinity HS in Hackensack, New Jersey. Afte a year at Seton Hall Prep, he went to Seton Hall University in 1942, but after his freshman year went into the army. He was stationed in Hawaii, where he organized an 8-team military basketball league. After the war, he returned to SHU, where he became the first player from that school to score 1000 point. He went on the NBA, playing with the Royals, Bullets, Lakers and Hawks, and was a member of four NBA championship teams. He decided to retire from the court after a leg injury and return to New Jersey, where he worked as an insurance agent until retiring in 1994.

Pep was also a decent pitcher, and played semi-pro baseball during the basketball off-season, and also played professionally one year, in Ogdenburg, New York, going 13-5 with a 3.25 ERA.

He and his wife Mary were married in 1948 and they had four sons and four daughters.

Minor League Baseball Stats:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=saul--001fra

Source:
Where Are They Now?- northjersey.com, February 9, 2016

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/saulpe01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=saulpe01

Bob Royer

Robert Dee Royer


Born:
October 15, 1927
Indiana

Died:
May 30, 1973
Lafayette, IN


Career
1944-45 Bowling Green High School - Indiana (High School)
1945-46 Indiana State University (College)
1946-47 Indiana State University (College)
1947-48 Indiana State University (College)
1948-49 Indiana State University (College)
1949-50 Denver Nuggets (NBA)

A basketball player at Bowling Green HS and Indiana State, Royer played for the Denver Nuggets in 1949-50. He later was a real estate salesman and an investment counselor, working out of Lafayette and Chicago. 

On May 29, 1973, Royer walked the office of Cosden Oil in Calumet City, Illinois, and shot a 32-year old receptionist, Elizabeth Conde Darling, twice, killing her. He fled the scene, and police began an intensive manhunt for him. He drove home to Lafayette, Indiana, and the next day, fired a shotgun into his abdomen, killing himself instantly. There was a note found on him that read, "To whom it may concern. Someone will understand." Royer and Darling had been having an affair prior to the murder, and when Royer said he was going to leave his wife and wanted to marry Elizabeth, she declined, after which Royer threatened her.

Gary was married to Gloria and they had three sons and a daughter.

Source:
Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN), May 31, 1973
The Times (Munster, IN), May 31, 1973
Star Press (Muncie, IN), June 1, 1973
Terre Haute Tribune, June 1, 1973
The Times (Munster, IN), June 1, 1973

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/r/royerbo01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=royerbo01

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

Warren Perkins

Warren Charles "Red" Perkins


Born:
February 2, 1922
New Orleans, LA

Died:
September 12, 2014
New Orleans, LA


Career
1940-41 Warren Easton High School - N. Orleans (High School)
1946-47 Tulane University (College)
1947-48 Tulane University (College)
1948-49 Tulane University (College)
1949-50 Tri-Cities Blackhawks (NBA)
1950-51 Tri-Cities Blackhawks (NBA)

Perkins lettered in four sports at Easton, with basketball and baseball being his best. He enrolled at Tulane in 1941 but World War 2 got in the way. He served in the U.S. Navy, and after the war, went back to Tulane and became a key part of the resurgence of the basketball program there, as they went 69-16 in Perkins' three years on the squad. He went on to play two seasons for the Blackhawks. 

Perkins was a practicing podiatrist for over 50 years before Hurricane Katrina destroyed the family home in 2005. Perkins retired to help rebuild and restore it.

He married Audrey in 1947 and they had two sons and two daughters.

Source:
Obituary, The Advocate, September 20, 2014

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/perkiwa01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=perkiwa01

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

Charlie Parsley

Charles Henry Parsley


Born:
October 13, 1925
London, KY

Died:
October 3, 1997
Las Vegas, NV


Career
1945-46 Western Kentucky University (College)
1946-47 Western Kentucky University (College)
1947-48 Western Kentucky University (College)
1948-49 Western Kentucky University (College)
1949-50 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1949-50 Hartford Hurricanes (ABL)
1950-51 Kansas City Hi-Spots (NPBL)
1950-51 Pottsville Packers (EPBL)
1958-59 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1959-60 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1960-61 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1961-62 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1962-63 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1963-64 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1964-65 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1965-66 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1966-67 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1967-68 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1968-69 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach
1969-70 Southeastern Missouri University (College) Head coach

He had a 181-95 record in this 12 years as coach at SE Missouri.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parslch01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=parslch01

Jack Parkinson

Jack Gordon Parkinson


Born:
March 4, 1924
Yorktown, IN

Died:
May 29, 1997
Yorktown, IN


Career
1939-40 Yorktown High School - Indiana (High School)
1940-41 Yorktown High School - Indiana (High School)
1941-42 Yorktown High School - Indiana (High School)
1943-44 Kentucky University (College)
1944-45 Kentucky University (College)
1945-46 Kentucky University (College)
1947-48 Kentucky University (College)
1948-49 American Legion - Yorktown, IN (Independent)
1948-49 New Orleans Sports (SPBL)
1949-50 Whiskered Wizards - St. Augustine, FL (Independent)
1949-50 Indianapolis Olympians (NBA)
1950-51 Whiskered Wizards - St. Augustine, FL (Independent)
1951-52 Toledo Mercuries (Independent)

Born in Yorktown to George and Hattie Parkinson, Jack played basketball and baseball at Yorktown High School. After graduating, he took work at a defense plant to help with the war effort, also working out with the Pittsburgh Pirates when they trained in Muncie, Indiana. He was offered a baseball contract with the Cincinnati Reds, but chose to enroll at UK and playe basketball for Adolph Rupp. He was a member of Wildcat teams that won the NIT (1946) and NCAA Tournament (1948). After his junior year in 1946, he served for just under a year in the U.S. Army before returning to UK. He was drafted by the Washington Capitols in 1948 but did not sign with them. In 1949, he signed with the NBA's Olympians, joining many of his Wildcat teammates, He only appeared in four games. He played with the Whiskered Wizards and the Toledo Mercuries before returning to baseball in Middlesboro (Kentucky) as a pitcher and manager for the D-level team. He later owned J&J Plumbing Supplies, and died of a brain tumor in 1997.

Jack's son Bruce played at Purdue.

Source:
http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/statistics/Players/Parkinson_Jack.html
Star Press, Muncie, IN, October 22, 1978
Muncie Evening Press, December 19, 1980

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/p/parkija01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=parkija01

Red Owens

James L. "Red" "Jamie" Owens


Born:
September 2, 1925
Houston, TX??

Died:
October 11, 1988



Career
1941-42 Jefferson Davis High School - Houston, TX (High School)
1942-43 Jefferson Davis High School - Houston, TX (High School)
1947-48 Baylor University (College)
1948-49 Baylor University (College)
1949-50 Tri-Cities Blackhawks (NBA)
1949-50 Anderson Packers (NBA)
1950-51 Anderson Packers (NPBL)
1951-52 Baltimore Bullets (NBA)
1951-52 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)
1952-53 University of Houston (College) Assistant coach
1953-54 Anderson No. 1. Beverage - Indiana (Independent)
1954-55 Anderson No. 1. Beverage - Indiana (Independent)
1955-56 St Thomas High School - Houston (High School) Head coach

Owens went to Baylor and lead the team in scoring in his sophomore year (1947-48) but quit school after his junior season to go pro. He played three seasons professionally in the NBA and NPBL before returning to Baylor to finish his education. He then took an assistant coaching job at the University of Houston, and played some independent basketball before becoming a high school coach. An avid golfer, Red was later a golf pro in Houston.

Supposedly died in 1988, but I cannot find anything concrete to confirm that.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/o/owensre01.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=owensre01