Henry's (clothiers)
Encyclopedia
Henry's was a family-owned clothing
retailer in Wichita, Kansas
from 1911 until 1993.
The store sponsored the Henry Clothiers basketball team which won three consecutive national Amateur Athletic Union
championships in 1930-1932 at a time when colleges, corporate-sponsored teams, and private athletic clubs competed in the same tournament.
immigrant Bernard Levitt.
After Bernard died his sons Henry (1894-June 20, 1968), Leo (known as Buddy)(died 1978) and Isadore (1898-1985) Levitt renamed the business Henry's. He opened a new store at 420 E. Douglas two blocks west of the original store. A 1929 renovation included Wichita's first large neon
store.
In 1948 a store opened at Broadway and William. It was followed by one in 1954 at Douglas and Oliver which eventually expanded to two stores across from each other. During the 1970s it opened in the Twin Lakes Shopping Center, Towne East Square and Towne West Square. In 1982 it closed the Twin Lakes store, the downtown store in 1984 and the Town West store in 1988.
team that won the state championship as well as the National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament in Chicago. The two had gone to Wichita State University
where it placed third and Dunham has been named to 1927 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
. Levitt lured the two along with another WSU player Harold Davis. Dutch Lonborg
coached the team to an AAU title game at Convention Hall
in Kansas City where it lost to Cook's Paint 51-35.
In the 1929-30 season, the team won the national championship in Kansas City under new coach Gene Johnson (a former WSU coach) defeating San Francisco Olympic Club
29-16 in Kansas City. Playing on that team was Tex Gibbons
.
In the 1930-31 season, team lost two of its players including Gibbons to Phillips Petroleum
. In order to maintain amateur status, players were required to be employees of the companies that sponsored him. Levitt would eventually not be able to keep up with Phillips in competition for players. The team defeated the Los Angeles Athletic Club
coached by Chuck Hyatt
33-20 in the semifinals and defeated the Kansas City Athletic Club
38-14 in the finals in Kansas City..
In the 1931-32 season the team defeated Northwest Missouri State University
15-14 in Kansas City. Northwest coached by Hank Iba and starring Jack McCracken
had defeated the team earlier in the season..
In the 1932-33 season played an expanded sesason of 50 games. It placed third in the national tournament losing to Diamond DX Oilers, 34-20 in the semifinals but beat Southern Kansas Stage Lines, 26-24 in third place game..
Levitt quit sponsoring the team after the 1933 season.
.
In 1968 after Henry died the WSU Arena
at Wichita State University
was renamed Levitt Arena. The arena was subsequently renamed in 2003 for Charles G. Koch
who donated $6 million for its renovation.
Clothing
Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...
retailer in Wichita, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
from 1911 until 1993.
The store sponsored the Henry Clothiers basketball team which won three consecutive national Amateur Athletic Union
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...
championships in 1930-1932 at a time when colleges, corporate-sponsored teams, and private athletic clubs competed in the same tournament.
Store history
The franchise was founded as B. Levitt & Sons in 1911 by RussianRussians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
immigrant Bernard Levitt.
After Bernard died his sons Henry (1894-June 20, 1968), Leo (known as Buddy)(died 1978) and Isadore (1898-1985) Levitt renamed the business Henry's. He opened a new store at 420 E. Douglas two blocks west of the original store. A 1929 renovation included Wichita's first large neon
Neon
Neon is the chemical element that has the symbol Ne and an atomic number of 10. Although a very common element in the universe, it is rare on Earth. A colorless, inert noble gas under standard conditions, neon gives a distinct reddish-orange glow when used in either low-voltage neon glow lamps or...
store.
In 1948 a store opened at Broadway and William. It was followed by one in 1954 at Douglas and Oliver which eventually expanded to two stores across from each other. During the 1970s it opened in the Twin Lakes Shopping Center, Towne East Square and Towne West Square. In 1982 it closed the Twin Lakes store, the downtown store in 1984 and the Town West store in 1988.
Henry Clothiers basketball
Henry Levitt organize the Henry Clothiers basketball team in 1928-29 to provide around Barry Dunham and Ross McBurney who were on the 1925 Wichita High School EastWichita High School East
Wichita High School East, known locally as East, is a public, co-educational secondary school located near the center of Wichita, Kansas With a student population of 2,200, it is the largest high school in the state. Originally known as Wichita High School, East was the first of eight traditional...
team that won the state championship as well as the National Interscholastic Basketball Tournament in Chicago. The two had gone to Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
where it placed third and Dunham has been named to 1927 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
1927 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The 1927 College Basketball All-American team, as chosen by the Helms Foundation. The player highlighted by gold indicates that he was chosen as the Helms Foundation Player of the Year....
. Levitt lured the two along with another WSU player Harold Davis. Dutch Lonborg
Dutch Lonborg
Arthur C. "Dutch" Lonborg was an American collegiate basketball and football coach.-Basketball:The Gardner, Illinois native coached for 23 years at McPherson College, Washburn College, and Northwestern University...
coached the team to an AAU title game at Convention Hall
Convention Hall
Convention Hall was a convention center in Kansas City, Missouri that hosted the 1900 Democratic National Convention and 1928 Republican National Convention.It was designed by Frederick E...
in Kansas City where it lost to Cook's Paint 51-35.
In the 1929-30 season, the team won the national championship in Kansas City under new coach Gene Johnson (a former WSU coach) defeating San Francisco Olympic Club
Olympic Club
The Olympic Club is a San Francisco, California, athletic club and private social club with three golf courses located at San Francisco's border with Daly City, California. The club's main "City Clubhouse" is located in downtown San Francisco. The club's "Lakeside Clubhouse" is located just north...
29-16 in Kansas City. Playing on that team was Tex Gibbons
Tex Gibbons
John Haskell "Tex" Gibbons was an American basketball player who competed in the 1936 Summer Olympics.He was the captain of the 1936 Olympics American basketball team, which won the gold medal. He played one match....
.
In the 1930-31 season, team lost two of its players including Gibbons to Phillips Petroleum
Phillips Petroleum
Phillips Petroleum Company was founded in 1917 by L.E. Phillips and Frank Phillips, of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Their younger brother Waite Phillips was the benefactor of Philmont Scout Ranch....
. In order to maintain amateur status, players were required to be employees of the companies that sponsored him. Levitt would eventually not be able to keep up with Phillips in competition for players. The team defeated the Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club
Los Angeles Athletic Club is an athletic club and private social club in Los Angeles, California, USA. It awards the John R. Wooden Award to the outstanding men's and women's college basketball player of each year....
coached by Chuck Hyatt
Chuck Hyatt
Charles D. "Chuck" Hyatt was a well-known collegiate basketball player in the late 1920s.The Syracuse, New York native played three seasons at University of Pittsburgh under Hall of Fame coach Clifford Carlson . An exceptional shooter, Hyatt scored then-outstanding 880 points throughout his...
33-20 in the semifinals and defeated the Kansas City Athletic Club
Kansas City Athletic Club
The Kansas City Athletic Club is an athletic club and gentlemen's club in Kansas City, Kansas. Until 1997, it had been located across the Kansas River in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Notable members have included President Harry S. Truman and basketball coach Phog Allen.-Founding:The club was...
38-14 in the finals in Kansas City..
In the 1931-32 season the team defeated Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University
Northwest Missouri State University is a state university in Maryville, Missouri. Founded in 1905 as a teachers college, it offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus, based on the design for Forest Park at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, is the official Missouri State Arboretum....
15-14 in Kansas City. Northwest coached by Hank Iba and starring Jack McCracken
Jack McCracken
Jack "Jumping Jack" McCracken was a basketball player in 1930s and 1940s. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest Amateur Athletic Union players of all time and was officially named as the greatest player of all time by the AAU organization.A native of Chickasha, Oklahoma, McCracken went to...
had defeated the team earlier in the season..
In the 1932-33 season played an expanded sesason of 50 games. It placed third in the national tournament losing to Diamond DX Oilers, 34-20 in the semifinals but beat Southern Kansas Stage Lines, 26-24 in third place game..
Levitt quit sponsoring the team after the 1933 season.
.
In 1968 after Henry died the WSU Arena
Charles Koch Arena
Charles Koch Arena , popularly known as The Roundhouse, is a 10,506-seat multi-purpose arena on the campus of Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas. It is home to the Wichita State Shockers men's and women's basketball and women's volleyball teams....
at Wichita State University
Wichita State University
Wichita State University is a NCAA Division I public university in Wichita, Kansas with selective admissions. WSU is one of six state universities governed by the Kansas Board of Regents. The current president is Dr. Donald Beggs....
was renamed Levitt Arena. The arena was subsequently renamed in 2003 for Charles G. Koch
Charles G. Koch
Charles de Ganahl Koch is co-owner, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Koch Industries Inc., the second-largest privately held company by revenue in the United States according to a 2010 Forbes survey...
who donated $6 million for its renovation.