Lauren Henry "Laddie" Gale was a leading figure in the development of West Coast basketball. Laddie Gale revolutionized the game by using a one-handed shot. This technique made the clever 6-foot-5 forward a valuable member of Hall of Fame coach Howard Hobson's University of Oregon Ducks.
Laddie Gale had been a high school star at Oakridge High School in Oakridge, Oregon where he was named all-state his senior year.
Gale then led the University of Oregon to a 74-22 record over three seasons. He teamed with 6'8″ Slim Wintermuite on a team known as the "Tall Firs" to capture the first NCAA championship tournament in 1939. A star player for the "Tall Firs," Gale led Oregon to the first official NCAA Championship in 1939 and brought credibility relatively unknown to basketball in the Pacific Northwest. The superb-shooting Gale scored 815 points over two college seasons and was named a Helms Foundation All-America in 1939. He was selected to the All-Pacific Coast Conference First-Team in 1938 and 1939, the same years he led the conference in scoring. His 408 points as a senior surpassed the Pacific Coast Conference record previously held by Hall of Famer Hank Luisetti. Laddie Gale's teammates on the "Tall Firs" included Slim Wintermute, John Dick, Bobby Anet and Wally Johansen.
After serving in World War II, Gale decided to remain in the west rather than return to the east to play professionally. Gale was very successful in the AAU ranks. He served as player-coach of the Salt Lake City Dessert Times in 1946-47 and finished third in the AAU American League league scoring . Gale signed with the Oakland Bittners for the 1947-48 season, but was declared ineligible because of his brief time with the Detroit Eagles in 1940. Gale remained with the team as coach and guided them to a third place in the national AAU championship and to the Olympic qualifying tournament.
Laddie Gale later moved to Gold Beach, Oregon where he raised his family. He owned Sportsman's Reality, Inc. until 1981 at which time his son-in- law took over the firm.
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Lauren "Laddie" Gale, College Basketball Star, 79
New York Times
August 4, 1996
GOLD BEACH, Ore.— Lauren "Laddie" Gale, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame who led the legendary 1939 Oregon Tall Firs to the first National Collegiate Athletic Association championship, died Monday. He was 79.
At 6 feet 4 inches, he was the second-tallest player on the Oregon team, behind 6-8 Urgel "Slim" Wintermute. The Ducks finished with a 29-5 record that season.
Surviving Mr. Gale are his son, Lauren Jr. of Florence, Ore.; his daughters, Robin Terrett of Gold Beach and Tia Menser of Florence; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Lauren Henry "Laddie" Gale was a leading figure in the development of West Coast basketball. Laddie Gale revolutionized the game by using a one-handed shot. This technique made the clever 6-foot-5 forward a valuable member of Hall of Fame coach Howard Hobson's University of Oregon Ducks.
Laddie Gale had been a high school star at Oakridge High School in Oakridge, Oregon where he was named all-state his senior year.
Gale then led the University of Oregon to a 74-22 record over three seasons. He teamed with 6'8″ Slim Wintermuite on a team known as the "Tall Firs" to capture the first NCAA championship tournament in 1939. A star player for the "Tall Firs," Gale led Oregon to the first official NCAA Championship in 1939 and brought credibility relatively unknown to basketball in the Pacific Northwest. The superb-shooting Gale scored 815 points over two college seasons and was named a Helms Foundation All-America in 1939. He was selected to the All-Pacific Coast Conference First-Team in 1938 and 1939, the same years he led the conference in scoring. His 408 points as a senior surpassed the Pacific Coast Conference record previously held by Hall of Famer Hank Luisetti. Laddie Gale's teammates on the "Tall Firs" included Slim Wintermute, John Dick, Bobby Anet and Wally Johansen.
After serving in World War II, Gale decided to remain in the west rather than return to the east to play professionally. Gale was very successful in the AAU ranks. He served as player-coach of the Salt Lake City Dessert Times in 1946-47 and finished third in the AAU American League league scoring . Gale signed with the Oakland Bittners for the 1947-48 season, but was declared ineligible because of his brief time with the Detroit Eagles in 1940. Gale remained with the team as coach and guided them to a third place in the national AAU championship and to the Olympic qualifying tournament.
Laddie Gale later moved to Gold Beach, Oregon where he raised his family. He owned Sportsman's Reality, Inc. until 1981 at which time his son-in- law took over the firm.
~~~~~
Lauren "Laddie" Gale, College Basketball Star, 79
New York Times
August 4, 1996
GOLD BEACH, Ore.— Lauren "Laddie" Gale, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame who led the legendary 1939 Oregon Tall Firs to the first National Collegiate Athletic Association championship, died Monday. He was 79.
At 6 feet 4 inches, he was the second-tallest player on the Oregon team, behind 6-8 Urgel "Slim" Wintermute. The Ducks finished with a 29-5 record that season.
Surviving Mr. Gale are his son, Lauren Jr. of Florence, Ore.; his daughters, Robin Terrett of Gold Beach and Tia Menser of Florence; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
