Dick Dickey
Encyclopedia
Richard Lea "Dick" Dickey (October 26, 1926 – July 3, 2006) was an American
professional basketball player for the National Professional Basketball League's Anderson Packers
and National Basketball Association
's Boston Celtics
, although he is best remembered for his college career while playing at NC State
.
. He attended Pendleton High School in Pendleton, Indiana
and graduated in 1944. During his senior
year of his high school basketball career, of which he started for three years, Dickey earned All-Sectional honors while playing for coach Art Gross.
to play basketball for future Hall of Fame coach Everett Case
two years after he graduated high school. It is his college career for which Dickey is most remembered. Between 1946–47 and 1949–50, the forward (who would later play guard professionally) led the Wolfpack to all four Southern Conference
championships during his tenure and was named all-conference four times. He is the only NC State player to earn that distinction. The Wolfpack compiled an overall record of 106–23 in that time, finishing with season records of 26–5, 28–4, 25–8 and 27–6. As a sophomore
in 1947–48, Dickey was voted a consensus Second Team All-American
.
In 1949–50, Dickey's senior season, the Wolfpack advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four
, where they would lost to eventual national champion CCNY
, 78–73. When the Wolfpack defeated Holy Cross
in the quarterfinals, Dickey cut down the rim's net, which was an Indiana high school basketball tradition that he is credited with introducing to the college game. He was also selected to play in the East-West College All-Star game at the end of the year.
. Although he was drafted by an NBA team, he actually spent his first year of professional basketball, 1950–51, playing for the Anderson Packers
in the National Professional Basketball League, which existed independently for only that season. In , Dickey played for the Boston Celtics
of the NBA and finished with 127 points, 81 rebounds and 50 assists. Dickey would be let go at the end of the season and never played professionally again.
and having his college jersey number (#70) officially retired. Dickey died on July 3, 2006, in Indianapolis
at age 79. The cause of death was due to complications from recent lung surgery. He was survived by his wife, Jean, and his seven children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional basketball player for the National Professional Basketball League's Anderson Packers
Anderson Packers
The Anderson Packers also known as the Anderson Duffy Packers was a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s....
and National Basketball Association
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...
's Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
, although he is best remembered for his college career while playing at NC State
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member....
.
Early life
Dickey was born in Rigdon, IndianaRigdon, Indiana
Rigdon is an unincorporated town in Green Township, Grant County, and in Duck Creek Township, Madison County Indiana....
. He attended Pendleton High School in Pendleton, Indiana
Pendleton, Indiana
Pendleton is a town in Fall Creek Township, Madison County, Indiana, United States. It is part of the Anderson, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and graduated in 1944. During his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
year of his high school basketball career, of which he started for three years, Dickey earned All-Sectional honors while playing for coach Art Gross.
College
Dickey decided to attend North Carolina State UniversityNorth Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
to play basketball for future Hall of Fame coach Everett Case
Everett Case
Everett N. Case , nicknamed "Gray Fox", was a basketball coach most notable for his tenure at North Carolina State University, from 1946 to 1964....
two years after he graduated high school. It is his college career for which Dickey is most remembered. Between 1946–47 and 1949–50, the forward (who would later play guard professionally) led the Wolfpack to all four Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
championships during his tenure and was named all-conference four times. He is the only NC State player to earn that distinction. The Wolfpack compiled an overall record of 106–23 in that time, finishing with season records of 26–5, 28–4, 25–8 and 27–6. As a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
in 1947–48, Dickey was voted a consensus Second Team All-American
1948 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1948 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of three major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the Helms Athletic Foundation, and Converse.-1948...
.
In 1949–50, Dickey's senior season, the Wolfpack advanced to the NCAA Tournament Final Four
1950 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1950 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 8 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 23, 1950, and ended with the championship game on March 28 in New York City, New York...
, where they would lost to eventual national champion CCNY
1949–50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team
The 1949–50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team represented the City College of New York. The Head Coach was Nat Holman. The team is the only team to win both the National Invitation Tournament and the NCAA Tournament in the same year...
, 78–73. When the Wolfpack defeated Holy Cross
Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball
The Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team represents the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, in NCAA Division I competition. The team competes in the Patriot League and plays their home games in the Hart Center...
in the quarterfinals, Dickey cut down the rim's net, which was an Indiana high school basketball tradition that he is credited with introducing to the college game. He was also selected to play in the East-West College All-Star game at the end of the year.
Professional
After graduating in 1950, Dickey was selected as the 25th pick in the third round by the Baltimore Bullets in the 1950 NBA Draft1950 NBA Draft
The 1950 NBA Draft was the fourth annual draft of the National Basketball Association . This is the first draft after the Basketball Association of America was renamed the NBA. The draft was held on April 25, 1950 before the 1950–51 season. In this draft, 12 remaining NBA teams took turns...
. Although he was drafted by an NBA team, he actually spent his first year of professional basketball, 1950–51, playing for the Anderson Packers
Anderson Packers
The Anderson Packers also known as the Anderson Duffy Packers was a professional basketball team based in Anderson, Indiana, in the 1940s and 1950s....
in the National Professional Basketball League, which existed independently for only that season. In , Dickey played for the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
of the NBA and finished with 127 points, 81 rebounds and 50 assists. Dickey would be let go at the end of the season and never played professionally again.
Later life
After his basketball playing career ended, Dickey spent much of his later life in the insurance industry, spending 29 years with Farm Bureau Insurance. He received a handful of belated honors for his basketball efforts at NC State and in the high school level, including a 2005 induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of FameIndiana Basketball Hall of Fame
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. It honors men and women associated with high school, college and professional basketball in Indiana....
and having his college jersey number (#70) officially retired. Dickey died on July 3, 2006, in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
at age 79. The cause of death was due to complications from recent lung surgery. He was survived by his wife, Jean, and his seven children.
External links
- Dick Dickey's entry at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame