Dick Farley

Richard Lawrence Farley


Born:
April 13, 1932
Winslow, IN

Died:
October 1, 1969
Fort Wayne, IN


Career
1945-46 Winslow High School - Indiana (High School)
1946-47 Winslow High School - Indiana (High School)
1947-48 Winslow High School - Indiana (High School)
1949-50 Winslow High School - Indiana (High School)
1950-51 Indiana University (College) Freshmen
1951-52 Indiana University (College)
1952-53 Indiana University (College)
1953-54 Indiana University (College)
1954-55 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1955-56 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1958-59 Detroit Pistons (NBA)

Farley started playing basketball when he was 12, and by the time he got to Winslow HS as a freshman, he was good enough to make the varsity team. In his junior and senior years, he would lead little Winslow HS deep into the state tournaments. He would attend Indiana University, where the Hoosiers would win a pair of Big Ten Championships with Farley. He was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals, where he averaged 6.3 ppg in two seasons before the military came-a-calling.

Farley served in the U.S. Air Force for two years before playing one last season in the NBA, with the Detroit Pistons. He moved to Fort Wayne where he was the president of Office Interiors, Inc. He would die of cancer at the young age of 37.

DIck married Marge Eckrich and they had two sons and three daughters.

Source:
Tribune (Coshocton, OH), August 24 and 31, 1969
The Herald (Jasper, IN), October 3, 1969

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/f/farledi01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=farledi01

Fred Diute

Fred Homer Diute


Born:
January 9, 1929
Binghamton, NY

Died:
July 19, 2004
Veru Beach, FL


Career
1945-46 Central High School - Binghamton, NY (High School)
1946-47 Central High School - Binghamton, NY (High School)
1947-48 St. Bonaventure (College) Freshmen
1948-49 St. Bonaventure (College)
1949-50 St. Bonaventure (College)
1950-51 St. Bonaventure (College)

1951-52 2nd Regiment  - Indian Gap, PA (Military)

1952-53 Harrisburg Senators (EPBL)
1953-54 Brockport Monarchs - New York (Semi-pro)
1954-55 Milwaukee Hawks (NBA)

1954-55 Wilkes-Barre Barons

Born and raised in Binghamton, New York, Diute played at St, Bonaventure before being drafted by the Rochester Royals in the 1951 NBA Draft. He would serve in the army during the Korean War, and after the war was released by the Royals prior to the 1953-54 season opener. He turned down an offer to play in the National Industrial League to stay close to home. After playing some semi-pro basketball, he would sign with the Hawks in November of 1954. He would play in seven games before being released, only scoring 11 points. Out of basketball, he would work for many years for Champion Sports in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Diute died of cancer in 2004.

Source:
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pressconnects/obituary.aspx?n=fred-diute&pid=87881199

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/diutefr01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=diutefr01

George Dempsey

George P. Dempsey


Born:
July 19, 1929
Philadelphia, PA

Died:
October 7, 2017
Cinnaminson, NJ ??


Career
1945-46 Merchantville High School - New Jersey (High School)
1946-47 Merchantville High School - New Jersey (High School)
1948-49 The King's College - New York (College)
1949-50 The King's College - New York (College)
1950-51 The King's College - New York (College)
1954-55 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1955-56 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1956-57 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1957-58 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1958-59 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1958-59 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)

Following a stellar basketball career at King's College in New York where he scored 1316 points in his freshman and sophomore seasons, Dempsey served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. After the war, he would play 5 seasons in the NBA, primarily with the Philadelphia Warriors. After leaving the game, Dempsey worked for the Roosevelt Paper Company for 47 years.

George married Doris Lightcap in 1954 and they had four sons and one daughter.

Source:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/184586623/george-p_-dempsey

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/dempsge01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=dempsge01

Larry Costello

Lawrence Ronald Costello


Born:
July 2, 1931
Syracuse, NY

Died:
December 11, 2001
Fort Myers Beach, FL


Career
1948-49 Minoa High School - New York (High School)
1949-50 Minoa High School - New York (High School)
1950-51 Niagara University (College)
1951-52 Niagara University (College)
1952-53 Niagara University (College)
1953-54 Niagara University (College)
1954-55 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1956-57 Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
1957-58 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1958-59 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1959-60 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1960-61 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1961-62 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1962-63 Syracuse Nationals (NBA)
1963-64 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
1964-65 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
1967-68 Philadelphia 76ers (NBA)
1968-69 Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Head coach
1969-70 Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Head coach
1970-71 Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Head coach
1971-72 Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Head coach
1972-73 Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Head coach
1973-74 Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Head coach
1974-75 Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Head coach
1975-76 Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Head coach
1976-77 Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Head coach
1978-79 Chicago Bulls (NBA) Head coach

Costello hit the ground running at Niagara, helping the freshmen team to an undefeated season in 1950-51. He would lead the varsity team in scoring as a sophomore, and his three years on varsity lead the Eagles to the NIT twice. A tough and physical player, he would play 12 seasons in the NBA with the Philadelphia Warriors and the Syracuse Nationals / Philadelphia 76ers. He retired as a player in 1968 and immediately moved to the bench, being named the head coach for the Milwaukee Bucks. He coached the Bucks to the NBA title in 1971 with players such as Lew Alcindor and Oscar Robertson. He would coach the Bucks for eight full seasons and was fired 16 games into a ninth. Costello was one of the first head coaches to employ a full-time assistant on the bench. He returned to coaching in 1978 with the Chicago Bulls but was replaced by Scotty Robertson after a 20-36 start.

Costello died of cancer in 2001.

Source:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42777375
https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/member/larry-costello/
NY Times, December 14, 2001

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/costela01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=costela01

Bert Cook

Bertram Eugene Cook


Born:
April 26, 1929
Hooper, UT

Died:
November 24, 1998
Roy, UT


Career
1946-47 Weber County High School - Utah (High School)
1947-48 Weber County High School - Utah (High School)
1948-49 Utah State University (College) Freshmen
1949-50 Utah State University (College)
1950-51 Utah State University (College)
1951-52 Utah State University (College)
1954-55 New York Knicks (NBA)

After a collegiate career at Utah State University that saw him named All-American, Cook would serve in the U.S. Army for two years before joining the New York Knicks. He would play 37 games for the Knicks in the 1954-55 season before a knee injury ended his career. His playing days over, he returned home to Utah and worked as the Weber County Sheriff as well as a recreational director for the Clearfield Job Corps. He would eventually run the family business at the Bert Cook Auction Company. He died in 1998 following a battle with cancer.

Bert had two sons and three daughters.

Source:
Deseret News, November 13, 1991
Elko Daily Free Press, December 22, 1998

Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/cookbe01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=cookbe01

In Memoriam: Ken Buehler

Dr. Ken Buehler (1919-2019)

Buehler, a three-year veteran of the NBL and the oldest known living professional basketball player, died last April at the age of 99.




Kenneth Buehler, age 99, of Arbor Vitae passed away on Thursday, April 18 at Friendly Village nursing home in Rhinelander.
He is survived by daughter Barbara (George),daughter Patricia (Frank), son Robert, grandchildren Justin Shetler, Maya Flores, Magdelena Flores, Melanie Rasmussen (Derek), Steven Cyra (Sydney), great grandchildren Deanna Flores, Michael Flores, Michaela Flores, Emmanuel Silvera, Luke Rasmussen and great great granddaughter Giselle Solis.
In addition to his wife, Jeannette, he was predeceased by his brothers Harold and Earl Buehler and his sister Virginia Lyons.
Ken was born in Edgar, Wisconsin on November 19, 1919. When his parents, Charles and Gerda Buehler, lost their dairy farm during the depression, the family moved into town and Ken loved living close to the gymnasium where he played basketball with his brothers.
Ken continued playing basketball while attending Milwaukee State Teachers College (now UWM) and then played basketball professionally with the Sheboygan Redskins. Ken was named Rookie of the Year for the National Basketball League in 1943, and in 1974 was named to UWM’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
World War II interrupted Ken’s basketball career when he enlisted in the Navy.He married his sweetheart Jeannette just before he pushed off to fight the Japanese in the Pacific. As 2nd lieutenant, Ken was 2nd in command of the USS Harris that carried 2000 men. Ken was later awarded the Bronze star.
The GI bill enabled Ken to go to dental school at Marquette Dental School in Milwaukee and he practiced dentistry in Menomonee Falls for over 35 years. When he wasn’t seeing patients, Ken kept busyraising three children and playing golf. At age 55, he won the Wisconsin State Dental golf tournament, besting a 30 something rival in sudden death.
When Ken retired, he and Jeannette moved to South Palm Beach, Florida joining Jeannette’s sister and brother and their spouses. And later they were joined by daughter, Barbara. In 2015, he moved back to Wisconsin to live with his daughter, Patsy. Ken enjoyed golfing into his eighties and fishing and biking well into his nineties. At 98 he still frequently rode his 3 wheel bicycle for 2 to 3 miles.
Ken was a wonderful, cheerful and generous man loved by friends and family. He was “never better” until the end.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held on Wednesday, May 15 at Nimsgern Funeral Home, 1025 Margaret Street, Woodruff, WI. There will be a 5:00 welcome and a 5:30 service with a light supper to follow.
Donations in memory of Ken may be made to the UCC church he and Jeannette attended in Florida, First Congregational Church of Lake Worth, 1415 N K Street, Lake Worth, FL 33460.
Online condolences may be shared at www.nimsgernfuneral.com. Nimsgern Funeral & Cremation Services is serving the family.

Fred Christ

Frederick L. Christ


Born:
August 6, 1930
Glendale, NY

 :




Career
1945-46 St. Francis Prep - Brooklyn (High School)
1946-47 St. Francis Prep - Brooklyn (High School)
1949-50 Fordham University (College)
1950-51 Fordham University (College)
1951-52 Fordham University (College)
1952-53 Fort Monmouth Signaleers (Military)
1953-54 Fort Monmouth Signaleers (Military)
1954-55 New York Knicks (NBA)

Christ played at Forham where he set the school record for points in a single game with 37 points. He entered the U.S. Army after school, serving two years He started the 1954-55 season with the New York Knicks, appearing in six games before being released.

Source:


Stats:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/c/chrisfr01.html
https://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=chrisfr01