Bob Kurland led the US basketball team to gold medals in two Summer Olympics, and led his AAU team to three national titles.
17 Facts About Bob Kurland
2.
Bob Kurland is a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
3.
Bob Kurland was born in St Louis, Missouri to Albert and Adele Bob Kurland.
4.
Bob Kurland graduated from Jennings High School in Jennings, Missouri, where he participated in basketball and track.
5.
Bob Kurland was an integral part of the team's consecutive NCAA titles in 1945 and 1946, and was named the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player both times.
6.
Bob Kurland was voted Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year.
7.
Bob Kurland was known to leap above the rim to grab opponents' shots.
8.
Bob Kurland has been credited as the first person to dunk in a college basketball game.
9.
In college, Bob Kurland was active in many campus activities, including the student council, for which he served as president in 1945 and 1946.
10.
Bob Kurland graduated with a bachelor of science in education.
11.
Bob Kurland played for six years with Phillips, winning three championships.
12.
Since Bob Kurland never played professionally, he was eligible as an amateur for the Olympic Games.
13.
Bob Kurland became a salesman for Phillips Petroleum Company, where he played AAU basketball, and later served as a senior marketing executive.
14.
Bob Kurland held a variety of positions, including ones responsible for the development of the self-service gas station concept, growth of the agricultural and plastics divisions, and management of marketing initiatives.
15.
Bob Kurland was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961.
16.
Bob Kurland died at his Florida home on September 29,2013, at age 88.
17.
Bob Kurland was survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara, their four children Alex, Ross, Dana, and Barbara, and seven grandchildren.