Gene Vance
Encyclopedia
Ellis Eugene "Gene" Vance (born February 25, 1923 in Clinton, Illinois
) is an American former professional basketball
player for the NBA's Chicago Stags
and a former collegiate athlete for the University of Illinois
Fighting Illini
basketball team. He is most famous for leading Illinois as a member of the famed "Whiz Kids" of the 1940s. He was drafted
into the NBA in 1948, and played for the Chicago Stags
, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks
and the Milwaukee Hawks
. He and the other Whiz Kids, Andy Phillip, Art Mathisen, Ken Menke, and Jack Smiley
, are regarded as some of Illinois' all-time greats, but only he and Phillip are on the team's all-century team. Vance and his Whiz Kids teammates left basketball to serve in World War II
in 1943. Vance was elected to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team" in 2004.
On December 18, 2006, the post office in his hometown of Clinton was named the Gene Vance Post Office in his honor.
Vance was married to Grace Hoberg from 1943 until her death from stomach cancer
in 1980; he is now married to Janann Duffy and has four children: Jon, Jim, Sue, and Marty.
Clinton, Illinois
Clinton is the largest city in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,225 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of DeWitt County.The city and the county are named for DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York, 1817-1823...
) is an American former professional 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 for the NBA's Chicago Stags
Chicago Stags
The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...
and a former collegiate athlete for the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
basketball team. He is most famous for leading Illinois as a member of the famed "Whiz Kids" of the 1940s. He was drafted
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
into the NBA in 1948, and played for the Chicago Stags
Chicago Stags
The Chicago Stags were a National Basketball Association team based in Chicago, Illinois, U.S..- Franchise history :The Chicago Stags were founded in 1946 and folded in 1950. Despite their short history, they were able to acquire the draft rights to a young Bob Cousy in a trade with the Tri-Cities...
, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
and the Milwaukee Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
. He and the other Whiz Kids, Andy Phillip, Art Mathisen, Ken Menke, and Jack Smiley
Jack Smiley
Arthur John "Jack" Smiley was an American basketball player.With Gene Vance, Andy Phillip, Ken Menke, and Art Mathisen, Smiley was a member of the University of Illinois' "Whiz Kids" team that went 35-6 from 1941 to 1943, earning two Big Ten Conference championships...
, are regarded as some of Illinois' all-time greats, but only he and Phillip are on the team's all-century team. Vance and his Whiz Kids teammates left basketball to serve 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...
in 1943. Vance was elected to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team" in 2004.
On December 18, 2006, the post office in his hometown of Clinton was named the Gene Vance Post Office in his honor.
Vance was married to Grace Hoberg from 1943 until her death from stomach cancer
Stomach cancer
Gastric cancer, commonly referred to as stomach cancer, can develop in any part of the stomach and may spread throughout the stomach and to other organs; particularly the esophagus, lungs, lymph nodes, and the liver...
in 1980; he is now married to Janann Duffy and has four children: Jon, Jim, Sue, and Marty.