Carlisle Towery
Encyclopedia
William Carlisle Towery (born June 20, 1920), nicknamed "Blackie" or "Big Boy", is a retired American
basketball
player.
A 6'5" (1.96 m) forward
/center
, Towery played for the Western Kentucky University
Hilltoppers from 1938 to 1941. He was a two-time All-America
selection and the first Hilltopper to score 1,000 points. He also led the Hilltoppers to three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
titles.
After graduating, Towery began his professional career with the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons of the National Basketball League
. He played three seasons with the Pistons before enterring military service in World War II
, where he earned a Bronze Star
as an infantryman. He then returned to the Pistons in 1946, and remained with the team as they joined the Basketball Association of America (the modern NBA
) in 1948. Towery spent half a season with the Pistons in the BAA, and later served stints for the Indianapolis Jets
and Baltimore Bullets. When he retired from basketball in 1950, he had scored 2,317 combined NBL/NBA points.
In 2003, Western Kentucky University retired his #42 college jersey. He became the sixth Hilltopper to receive such honors.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
A 6'5" (1.96 m) forward
Power forward (basketball)
Power forward is a position in the sport of basketball. The position is referred to in playbook terms as the four position and is commonly abbreviated "PF". It has also been referred to as the "post" position. Power forwards play a role similar to that of center in what is called the "post" or "low...
/center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
, Towery played for the Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University
Western Kentucky University is a public university in Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA. It was formally founded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1906, though its roots reach back a quarter-century earlier....
Hilltoppers from 1938 to 1941. He was a two-time All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
selection and the first Hilltopper to score 1,000 points. He also led the Hilltoppers to three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association was one of the first collegiate athletic conferences in the United States. Twenty-seven of the current Division I FBS football programs were members of this conference at some point, as were at least 19 other schools...
titles.
After graduating, Towery began his professional career with the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons of the National Basketball League
National Basketball League (United States)
Founded in 1937, the National Basketball League, often abbreviated to NBL, was a professional men's basketball league in the United States. The league would later merge with the Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association in 1949.- League history :The...
. He played three seasons with the Pistons before enterring military service in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, where he earned a Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
as an infantryman. He then returned to the Pistons in 1946, and remained with the team as they joined the Basketball Association of America (the modern NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
) in 1948. Towery spent half a season with the Pistons in the BAA, and later served stints for the Indianapolis Jets
Indianapolis Jets
The Indianapolis Jets were a Basketball Association of America team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team lasted for one season and was later replaced by a new franchise.-Franchise history:...
and Baltimore Bullets. When he retired from basketball in 1950, he had scored 2,317 combined NBL/NBA points.
In 2003, Western Kentucky University retired his #42 college jersey. He became the sixth Hilltopper to receive such honors.