Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He was a member of the 1952 United States Olympic Basketball team that captured the Gold Medal. A standout athlete at Beloit High School, Beloit, Kansas, he was recruited by legendary University of Kansas basketball coach Forrest "Phog" Allen to play for the Jayhawks, and helped the program to win the 1952 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship (where they defeated St. John's University from Queens, New York City, New York). He was then selected as a member of the 1952 Olympic Basketball team, which contained fellow champion Kansas Jayhawk players Charlie Hoag, John Keller, Dean Kelley, Bob Kenney, Bill Leinhard, and Clyde Lovellette. The team went undefeated in tournament play, beating the National teams of six other countries before defeating the Soviet Union 36 to 25 in the Gold Medal Game. After the Games concluded he joined he United States Air Force and served in Korea, arranging basketball games on air force bases. He played with the Amateur Athletic Union's Phillips 66ers from 1952 to 1958, and was selected in 1956 to again be a part of the United States Olympic Basketball team. In that Summer Olympiad, held in Melbourne, Australia, he helped the team win the Gold Medal as it again defeated the Soviet Union, this time 89 to 55, in the championship game (the US team featured future National Basketball Association Hall of Famers Bill Russell and K. C. Jones). After his playing days he became an oil company executive.
Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. He was a member of the 1952 United States Olympic Basketball team that captured the Gold Medal. A standout athlete at Beloit High School, Beloit, Kansas, he was recruited by legendary University of Kansas basketball coach Forrest "Phog" Allen to play for the Jayhawks, and helped the program to win the 1952 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship (where they defeated St. John's University from Queens, New York City, New York). He was then selected as a member of the 1952 Olympic Basketball team, which contained fellow champion Kansas Jayhawk players Charlie Hoag, John Keller, Dean Kelley, Bob Kenney, Bill Leinhard, and Clyde Lovellette. The team went undefeated in tournament play, beating the National teams of six other countries before defeating the Soviet Union 36 to 25 in the Gold Medal Game. After the Games concluded he joined he United States Air Force and served in Korea, arranging basketball games on air force bases. He played with the Amateur Athletic Union's Phillips 66ers from 1952 to 1958, and was selected in 1956 to again be a part of the United States Olympic Basketball team. In that Summer Olympiad, held in Melbourne, Australia, he helped the team win the Gold Medal as it again defeated the Soviet Union, this time 89 to 55, in the championship game (the US team featured future National Basketball Association Hall of Famers Bill Russell and K. C. Jones). After his playing days he became an oil company executive.
Bio by: RPD2
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