Carlisle Towery

Carlisle Towery
Power forward
Center
Personal information
Date of birth June 20, 1920 (1920-06-20) (age 91)
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Listed weight 210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
College Western Kentucky University
Pro career 1941–1950
Career history
Fort Wayne Pistons
Indianapolis Jets
Baltimore Bullets
Stats at NBA.com

William Carlisle Towery (born June 20, 1920), nicknamed "Blackie" or "Big Boy",[1] is a retired American basketball player.

A 6'5" (1.96 m) forward/center, Towery played for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers from 1938 to 1941. He was a two-time All-America selection and the first Hilltopper to score 1,000 points. He also led the Hilltoppers to three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles.[2]

After graduating, Towery began his professional career with the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons of the National Basketball League. He played three seasons with the Pistons before enterring military service in World War II, where he earned a Bronze Star as an infantryman.[2] He then returned to the Pistons in 1946, and remained with the team as they joined the Basketball Association of America (the modern NBA) in 1948. Towery spent half a season with the Pistons in the BAA, and later served stints for the Indianapolis Jets and Baltimore Bullets. When he retired from basketball in 1950, he had scored 2,317 combined NBL/NBA points.[3]

In 2003, Western Kentucky University retired his #42 college jersey. He became the sixth Hilltopper to receive such honors.[2]

Notes

  1. ^ Carlisle Towery Interview at Hilltopper Haven. Retrieved on January 13, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Danny Schoenbaechler. "Men's Basketball: 'It's an honor and I'm speechless'". College Heights Herald. February 25, 2003. Retrieved on January 13, 2008.
  3. ^ The Official NBA Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. 784.