Gordon Carpenter
Encyclopedia
Gordon "Shorty" Carpenter (September 24, 1919 in Ash Flat, Arkansas
– March 8, 1988) was an American
basketball
player, and part of gold medal winning American basketball team at the 1948 Summer Olympics
.
Nicknamed Shorty despite his 6 foot, 6 inch frame, Carpenter played his college basketball at the University of Arkansas
, where he was an All-Southwest Conference performer in 1943. He later played AAU
basketball for both the Phillips 66ers and Denver Chevrolets, making AAU All-American teams each year from 1943 to 1947.
He coached the United States men's national basketball team at the 1950 FIBA World Championship
, winning the silver medal.
Carpenter was named to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Helms Athletic Hall of Fame. Following his playing career, he became a referee
with the Big Eight Conference
.
Ash Flat, Arkansas
Ash Flat is a city in Fulton and Sharp counties in the U.S. state of Arkansas. The population was 977 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Sharp County.-Geography:Ash Flat is located at ....
– March 8, 1988) was an American
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, and part of gold medal winning American basketball team at the 1948 Summer Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
.
Nicknamed Shorty despite his 6 foot, 6 inch frame, Carpenter played his college basketball at the University of Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
, where he was an All-Southwest Conference performer in 1943. He later played AAU
Amateur Athletic Union
The Amateur Athletic Union is one of the largest non-profit volunteer sports organizations in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.-History:The AAU was founded in 1888 to...
basketball for both the Phillips 66ers and Denver Chevrolets, making AAU All-American teams each year from 1943 to 1947.
He coached the United States men's national basketball team at the 1950 FIBA World Championship
1950 FIBA World Championship
The 1950 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball tournament held by the International Basketball Federation in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from October 22 to November 3, 1950. Ten nations participated in the inaugural tournament. All competition was held at the Luna Park, Buenos Aires...
, winning the silver medal.
Carpenter was named to the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Helms Athletic Hall of Fame. Following his playing career, he became a referee
Official (basketball)
In basketball, an official is a person who has the responsibility to enforce the rules and maintain the order of the game. The title of official also applies to the scorers and timekeepers, as well as other personnel that have an active task in maintaining the game...
with the Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
.