NBA Star and former Olympic Gold Medallist Bob Boozer dies at the age of 75
Former NBA All Star and Olympic Gold Medallist Bob Boozer, 75, died of a brain aneurysm Saturday in a hospital in Omaha.
Bob fell sick after a Friday night dinner with friends, said his wife Ella Boozer. He was taken to hospital via ambulance where the aneurysm was discovered. His wife and son decided to take him off life support.
An Omaha native, Boozer won all national honours in his junior and senior years at Kansas State. He is still one of the greatest players in Kansas State history, averaging 21.9 points for his career and still
holds the 2nd highest points in a game at 25.2.
Bob led Kansas State to the NCAA final four in his junior year, while in his senior year he marshalled them to the #1 ranking.
The 6 feet 8 inch forward was the #1 draft pick in the 1959 NBA Draft. He was part of the 1960 Olympic team alongside Jerry West, Oscar Robertson and Jerry Lucas, which won the gold medal after defeating Brazil
90-63 in the final in Rome. The 1960 Olympic team was inducted in the 2010 NBA Hall of Fame.
Bob formed a lifelong friendship with his teammate Robertson, who was depressed at the sudden departure.
“Bob was a nice guy who wasn't too talkative, and neither was I. We came from the same type of background and just hit it off. He was just a pleasure to be around” said Robertson.
"Bob wasn't just a great individual for himself, but also for the city of Omaha and state of Nebraska," Robertson added.
Boozer played in the NBA for 11 years, retiring in 1971 after his team Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA championship. He was selected as an All Star while playing for the Chicago Bulls in the 1968 All Star game.
Bob returned to his home town of Omaha after his basketball days, where he worked as an executive for the Telephone Company. He was also involved in a number of charity projects, particularly those involving
young African Americans. The Governor of Nebraska Dave Heinemann said that Bob was one of the greatest ambassadors of the state of Nebraska.
Funeral arrangements are still pending.
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