Professional Basketball Player. For nine seasons (1951 to 1960), he played at the center position in the National Basketball Association with the Fort Wayne Pistons, Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks and Minneapolis Lakers. Raised in Cincinnati, where he attended Western Hills High School, he enrolled at Bowling Green State University and while playing collegiate basketball with the Falcons, he was a contributor to their rise to recognition within the NCAA. Individually, he earned All-American honors. Selected by the Boston Celtics as the first overall pick during the 1950 NBA Draft, he was acquired by Fort Wayne. He experienced a world championship, while serving as captain of the 1957-1958 NBA Champion St. Louis Hawks squad and shared the court with future Hall of Fame players Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan, Slater Martin and Ed Macauley. He displayed durability, as he appeared in 72 games for three consecutive seasons (1956 to 1959). In 596 games, he compiled 4,928 points with 4,986 total rebounds. Following his playing career, he founded his own packaging company. In addition, he raised American saddle-back horses. He was inducted into the Bowling Green State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1964.
Professional Basketball Player. For nine seasons (1951 to 1960), he played at the center position in the National Basketball Association with the Fort Wayne Pistons, Milwaukee/St. Louis Hawks and Minneapolis Lakers. Raised in Cincinnati, where he attended Western Hills High School, he enrolled at Bowling Green State University and while playing collegiate basketball with the Falcons, he was a contributor to their rise to recognition within the NCAA. Individually, he earned All-American honors. Selected by the Boston Celtics as the first overall pick during the 1950 NBA Draft, he was acquired by Fort Wayne. He experienced a world championship, while serving as captain of the 1957-1958 NBA Champion St. Louis Hawks squad and shared the court with future Hall of Fame players Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan, Slater Martin and Ed Macauley. He displayed durability, as he appeared in 72 games for three consecutive seasons (1956 to 1959). In 596 games, he compiled 4,928 points with 4,986 total rebounds. Following his playing career, he founded his own packaging company. In addition, he raised American saddle-back horses. He was inducted into the Bowling Green State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1964.
Bio by: C.S.
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