John Dick (basketball)

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John H. Dick
Born 1919
Place of birth The Dalles, Oregon
Allegiance United States
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service 1942–1973
Rank Rear Admiral
Commands held USS Saratoga (1967–1969)
Other work starting forward on Oregon Ducks 1939 NCAA basketball championship team

John H. Dick (born 1919 in The Dalles, Oregon) is an American former basketball player and retired Rear Admiral in the United States Navy.

Contents

[edit] College basketball career

Dick grew up in The Dalles, Oregon and attended the University of Oregon, where he was a 6-foot-4-inch (1.9 m) forward on the Ducks basketball team from 1938 to 1940.[1]

In 1939, the Ducks won the Northern Division of the Pacific Coast Conference, and then defeated Southern Division champion California to win the conference championship and a berth in the 1939 NCAA basketball championship, the first edition of the tournament.[2] The Ducks defeated Texas and Oklahoma to advance to the championship game against Ohio State. In the championship game, Dick led all scorers with 13 points as the Ducks won 46–33.[2][3]

Following the championship season, Dick was an All-American for the Ducks in 1940.[4]

[edit] U.S. Navy

After the United States entered World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbor, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy as an aviator, eventually achieving the rank of rear admiral.[3][5] From 1967 to 1969, he was the captain of the USS Saratoga supercarrier. He retired from the Navy in 1973.[6][7]

[edit] Legacy

Dick was a charter member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980,[8] and in 1993, was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.[9] Like all starters on their 1939 championship team, Dick's number (18) has been retired by the Ducks.[10] Each year, the Ducks present the Rear Admiral John Dick Award to the team's best defender.[11]

One of two surviving members of Oregon's 1939 championship team (Ford Mullen is the other), he lives in Eugene, where he has been a Ducks basketball season ticket holder since his retirement from the Navy in 1973.[3][6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide p. 127. University of Oregon Department of Athletics.
  2. ^ a b University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide p. 141. University of Oregon Department of Athletics.
  3. ^ a b c Meehan, Brian. "When Firs stood tall", The Oregonian, 2008-04-07. Retrieved on 2008-04-17. 
  4. ^ University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide p. 116. University of Oregon Department of Athletics.
  5. ^ Lopresti, Mike. "A face from the past hopes for new Oregon glory", USA Today, 2007-03-22. Retrieved on 2008-04-17. 
  6. ^ a b Smith, Jeff. "Celebrating 'A grand old place'", Daily Emerald, 2002-01-15. Retrieved on 2008-04-17. 
  7. ^ USS Saratoga (CV-60) History and Background. USS Saratoga Museum Foundation. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
  8. ^ Inductees: Basketball. Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved on 2007-04-10.
  9. ^ John Dick. GoDucks.com. Retrieved on 2008-04-10.
  10. ^ University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide p. 298. University of Oregon Department of Athletics.
  11. ^ University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide p. 122. University of Oregon Department of Athletics.
v • d • e
Oregon Ducks Basketball 1938-1939 NCAA Champions
Bobby Anet | John Dick | Laddie Gale | Bob Hardy | Wally Johansen | Jay Langston | Red McNeely | Ford Mullen | Matt Pavalunas | Earl Sandness | Ted Sarpola | Slim Wintermute
Coach Howard Hobson