Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. A star basketball guard at the University of Kentucky, he was a member of the United States Olympic Basketball team that competed at the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. He helped the American team go undefeated in the seven games they played in the tournament, which culminated in a 65-21 victory over France in the Gold Medal game. In college he helped the Kentucky Wildcats to to consecutive NCAA Basketball championships in 1948 and 1949. During World War II he served in the United States Army Air Corps as a gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. He was shot down over Europe, and was a Prisoner-of-War for sixteen months. His uniform number 23 was retired by the University of Kentucky.
Olympic Games Gold Medalist Athlete. A star basketball guard at the University of Kentucky, he was a member of the United States Olympic Basketball team that competed at the 1948 Summer Olympic Games in London, England. He helped the American team go undefeated in the seven games they played in the tournament, which culminated in a 65-21 victory over France in the Gold Medal game. In college he helped the Kentucky Wildcats to to consecutive NCAA Basketball championships in 1948 and 1949. During World War II he served in the United States Army Air Corps as a gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber. He was shot down over Europe, and was a Prisoner-of-War for sixteen months. His uniform number 23 was retired by the University of Kentucky.
Bio by: Jennifer Morrow Jackson
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