Walt Kirk
- Not to be confused with Walter Kirk, an Australian World War I flying ace.
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born |
September 3, 1924 Mount Vernon, Illinois |
| Died |
December 12, 2012 (aged 88) Dubuque, Iowa |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Listed weight | 173 lb (78 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school |
Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, Illinois) |
| College | Illinois (1943–1947) |
| Pro career | 1947–1952 |
| Position | Guard / Forward |
| Number | 35, 60, 9, 4, 16 |
| Career history | |
| 1947–1948 | Fort Wayne Pistons |
| 1948–1949 | Indianapolis Jets |
| 1949 | Anderson Packers |
| 1949–1950 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
| 1950–1951 | Kansas City Hi-Spots (NPBL) |
| 1951–1952 | Milwaukee Hawks |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 907 |
| Rebounds | 44 |
| Assists | 249 |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Walton "Walt" Kirk, Jr. (September 3, 1924 – December 12, 2012) was an American professional basketball player.
Kirk grew up in Mount Vernon, Illinois and attended Mount Vernon High School, where he was a second team all-state selection in 1942.[1][2] He then attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he played basketball.[3] He earned varsity letters in from 1943–44 through 1946–47. In 1944–45, Kirk led the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game while also serving as team captain.[4] He garnered consensus First Team All-American status at the end of the season as well.
Kirk would go on to play professionally after his senior year of 1947–48. In four NBL/BAA/NBA seasons, Kirk played for five different teams: the Fort Wayne Pistons, Indianapolis Jets, Anderson Packers, Tri-Cities Blackhawks and Milwaukee Hawks.[1] In April 1949, while a member of the Jets, Kirk joined former teammates George Glamack and Leo Mogus to sue the organization for $4,662.51 each.[5] The three of them had been released from the team and they cited poor management and administration on the part of the Jets as the reasons why they were unable to be retained.[5]
He later coached high school basketball in Illinois and Iowa.
Kirk died on December 12, 2012.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Walt Kirk". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Boys Basketball All-State Players". Illinois High School Athletic Association. 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ↑ All-Time Illini Rosters
- ↑ "2009–10 Illinois Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). Records. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 2009. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Nelson, Murry R. (2009). The National Basketball League: A History, 1935–1949. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers. p. 221. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ↑ "Illini Great Walt Kirk Passes Away". Obituary. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 2012. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
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