Bill Jones (basketball, born 1914)

Bill Jones
Personal information
Born February 3, 1914
Toledo, Ohio
Died April 9, 2006 (aged 92)
Los Angeles, California
Nationality American
Career information
High school Woodward (Toledo, Ohio)
Libbey (Toledo, Ohio)
College Toledo (1933–1934; 1936–1938)
Position Guard
Career history
1942 Toledo Jim White Chevrolets
Career highlights and awards
  • First African-American player in NBL history
  • Univ. of Toledo Hall of Fame (1991)
  • 2× Toledo city high school champion (1929, 1930)

William McNeil "Bill" Jones (February 3, 1914 – April 9, 2006) was an American professional basketball player.[1] He played in all five games for the National Basketball League's Toledo Jim White Chevrolets before the team disbanded early into the 1942–43 season.[1][2] Jones was one of the earliest African-American players in the NBL and is considered a pioneer of integration in professional basketball.[3]

He played collegiately at the University of Toledo,[4] followed by stints with barnstorming teams as well as the Harlem Globetrotters.[3][5] He eventually moved to Los Angeles, California.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bill Jones NBL stats. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on September 4, 2014.
  2. ↑ 1942–43 Toledo Jim White Chevrolets Stats. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on September 4, 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "'He lived a good life': Toledo native Bill Jones was a basketball pioneer". The (Toledo) Blade. May 7, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ "2009–10 Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). All-time letterwinners. University of Toledo. 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  5. ↑ "African Americans in Toledo Sports – Basketball". William Jones. Toledo's Attic. July 24, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2014.

External links