John Dick (basketball)

Infobox Military Person
name=John H. Dick


caption=
born=1919
died=
placeofbirth=The Dalles, Oregon
placeofdeath=
nickname=
allegiance=United States
branch=United States Navy
serviceyears=1942–1973
rank=Rear Admiral
unit=
commands=USS "Saratoga" (1967–1969)
battles=
awards=
relations=
laterwork=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.

College basketball career

Dick grew up in The Dalles, Oregon and attended the University of Oregon, where he was a convert|6|ft|4|in|m|adj=on forward on the Ducks basketball team from 1938 to 1940.cite web|url=http://www.goducks.com/pdf4/48522.pdf?ATCLID=654155&SPID=235&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPSID=35822|pages=p. 127|publisher=University of Oregon Department of Athletics|title=University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide]

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.cite web|url=http://www.goducks.com/pdf4/48522.pdf?ATCLID=654155&SPID=235&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPSID=35822|pages=p. 141|publisher=University of Oregon Department of Athletics|title=University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide] 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.cite news|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1207538720201650.xml&coll=7|title=When Firs stood tall|last=Meehan|first=Brian|date=2008-04-07|accessdate=2008-04-17|work=The Oregonian]

Following the championship season, Dick was an All-American for the Ducks in 1940.cite web|url=http://www.goducks.com/pdf4/48522.pdf?ATCLID=654155&SPID=235&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPSID=35822|pages=p. 116|publisher=University of Oregon Department of Athletics|title=University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide]

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.cite news|title=A face from the past hopes for new Oregon glory|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2007-03-22-lopresti-oregon_N.htm|date=2007-03-22|accessdate=2008-04-17| last=Lopresti|first=Mike|work=USA Today] From 1967 to 1969, he was the captain of the USS "Saratoga" supercarrier. He retired from the Navy in 1973.cite news|url=http://media.www.dailyemerald.com/media/storage/paper859/news/2002/01/15/Sports/Celebrating.a.Grand.Old.Place-1975822.shtml| title=Celebrating 'A grand old place'|last=Smith|first=Jeff|date=2002-01-15|accessdate=2008-04-17|work=Daily Emerald] cite web|url=http://www.saratogamuseum.org/misc/sarahistory.html|title=USS Saratoga (CV-60) History and Background|accessdate=2008-04-17|publisher=USS Saratoga Museum Foundation]

Legacy

Dick was a charter member of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980,cite web|url=http://www.oregonsportshall.com/inductee/roll/football.htm|title=Inductees: Basketball|publisher=Oregon Sports Hall of Fame and Museum|accessdate=2007-04-10] and in 1993, was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame.cite web|url=http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=0&SPID=3169&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=248843|title=John Dick|publisher=GoDucks.com|accessdate=2008-04-10] Like all starters on their 1939 championship team, Dick's number (18) has been retired by the Ducks.cite web|url=http://www.goducks.com/pdf4/48522.pdf?ATCLID=654155&SPID=235&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPSID=35822|pages=p. 298|publisher=University of Oregon Department of Athletics|title=University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide] Each year, the Ducks present the Rear Admiral John Dick Award to the team's best defender.cite web|url=http://www.goducks.com/pdf4/48522.pdf?ATCLID=654155&SPID=235&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPSID=35822|pages=p. 122|publisher=University of Oregon Department of Athletics|title=University of Oregon 2006-2007 Men's Basketball Media Guide]

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.

References