Jump to content

Wallace Jones: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Rescuing 1 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.6.1) (Balon Greyjoy)
Line 50: Line 50:
Jones attended the [[University of Kentucky]], where he continued to play varsity football, basketball and baseball. He was twice All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] in football. In basketball, he was a three time [[All-American]] and four time All-SEC. He led the Wildcats to 2 NCAA Championships, in [[1948 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|1948]] and [[1949 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|1949]]. Jones was a member of the [[Basketball at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 Olympic]] Gold medal winning team with Adolph Rupp's "[[Fabulous Five (Kentucky Wildcats)|Fabulous Five]]" and the [[Phillips 66ers]]. During his four years at Kentucky, the basketball team had a combined record of 130-10 and won the SEC championship every year.<ref name=UKAth_obit/>
Jones attended the [[University of Kentucky]], where he continued to play varsity football, basketball and baseball. He was twice All-[[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] in football. In basketball, he was a three time [[All-American]] and four time All-SEC. He led the Wildcats to 2 NCAA Championships, in [[1948 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|1948]] and [[1949 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament|1949]]. Jones was a member of the [[Basketball at the 1948 Summer Olympics|1948 Olympic]] Gold medal winning team with Adolph Rupp's "[[Fabulous Five (Kentucky Wildcats)|Fabulous Five]]" and the [[Phillips 66ers]]. During his four years at Kentucky, the basketball team had a combined record of 130-10 and won the SEC championship every year.<ref name=UKAth_obit/>


He holds the unique distinction of being an All-American under both legends, [[Adolph Rupp]] (basketball) and [[Bear Bryant]] ([[American football|football]]) when both coached at Kentucky. He is the only player to have his number retired in both football and basketball at Kentucky.<ref name=martin>{{citation |last=Martin |first=Douglas |title=Wah Wah Jones, Versatile Kentucky Athlete, Dies at 88 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 28, 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/29/sports/29jones.html}}</ref> At the University of Kentucky, Jones was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.straitpinkie.com/kentucky-2/all-time-kentucky-team-starting-pg-12-ralph-beard/|title = All-Time Kentucky Team (Starting PG): #12 Ralph Beard| publisher= straitpinkie.com|accessdate= May 27, 2013}}</ref>
He holds the unique distinction of being an All-American under both legends, [[Adolph Rupp]] (basketball) and [[Bear Bryant]] ([[American football|football]]) when both coached at Kentucky. He is the only player to have his number retired in both football and basketball at Kentucky.<ref name=martin>{{citation |last=Martin |first=Douglas |title=Wah Wah Jones, Versatile Kentucky Athlete, Dies at 88 | newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 28, 2014 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/29/sports/29jones.html}}</ref> At the University of Kentucky, Jones was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.straitpinkie.com/kentucky-2/all-time-kentucky-team-starting-pg-12-ralph-beard/|title= All-Time Kentucky Team (Starting PG): #12 Ralph Beard|publisher= straitpinkie.com|accessdate= May 27, 2013|deadurl= yes|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20131005231849/http://www.straitpinkie.com/kentucky-2/all-time-kentucky-team-starting-pg-12-ralph-beard/|archivedate= October 5, 2013|df= }}</ref>


[[File:Wallace-Jones-jersey.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A jersey honoring Jones hangs in [[Rupp Arena]].]]
[[File:Wallace-Jones-jersey.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A jersey honoring Jones hangs in [[Rupp Arena]].]]

Revision as of 07:32, 27 November 2017

Wallace Jones
Personal information
Born(1926-07-14)July 14, 1926
Harlan, Kentucky
DiedJuly 27, 2014(2014-07-27) (aged 88)
Lexington, Kentucky
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolHarlan (Harlan, Kentucky)
CollegeKentucky (1945–1949)
BAA draft1949: 1st round, 8th overall pick
Selected by the Washington Capitols
Playing career1949–1952
PositionPower forward
Number17
Career history
19491952Indianapolis Olympians
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points1,428 (10.2 ppg)
Rebounds408 (5.1 rpg)
Assists429 (3.1 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing the  United States
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1948 London Team competition

Wallace Clayton "Wah Wah" Jones (July 14, 1926 – July 27, 2014) was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association from 1949 to 1952 with the Indianapolis Olympians.

Biography

Jones was born in Harlan, Kentucky. He attended Harlan High School, where he set a national scoring record in basketball and led his school to a state championship. He was all-state in football, basketball and baseball.[1]

Jones attended the University of Kentucky, where he continued to play varsity football, basketball and baseball. He was twice All-SEC in football. In basketball, he was a three time All-American and four time All-SEC. He led the Wildcats to 2 NCAA Championships, in 1948 and 1949. Jones was a member of the 1948 Olympic Gold medal winning team with Adolph Rupp's "Fabulous Five" and the Phillips 66ers. During his four years at Kentucky, the basketball team had a combined record of 130-10 and won the SEC championship every year.[1]

He holds the unique distinction of being an All-American under both legends, Adolph Rupp (basketball) and Bear Bryant (football) when both coached at Kentucky. He is the only player to have his number retired in both football and basketball at Kentucky.[2] At the University of Kentucky, Jones was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.[3]

A jersey honoring Jones hangs in Rupp Arena.

In 1953, Jones was elected the sheriff of Fayette County, Kentucky.[4] In 1956, Jones was the Republican nominee for Kentucky's 6th congressional district seat in the United States House of Representatives. Though Dwight Eisenhower, heading the Republican ticket, carried the state, Jones lost the election to Democrat John C. Watts.[4]

In 1978, Jones started a charter bus company called "Blue Grass Tours" that was contracted to the UK Athletics department and more recently purchased a custom sleeper coach for the use of the athletic teams.[5]

"Wah Wah"

Known as Wallace in his early years, Jones acquired the nickname, "Wah Wah", when his younger sister Jackie, just learning to talk, could not pronounce his name.[5]

Death

Jones died in Lexington on July 27, 2014 at the age of 88.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "'Wah Wah' Jones Passes Away". University of Kentucky. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  2. ^ Martin, Douglas (July 28, 2014), "Wah Wah Jones, Versatile Kentucky Athlete, Dies at 88", The New York Times
  3. ^ "All-Time Kentucky Team (Starting PG): #12 Ralph Beard". straitpinkie.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved May 27, 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b Story, Mark, Farmer's political rise recalls another former Cat's Lexington Herald-Leader. September 5, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c Legendary UK basketball and football star Wah Wah Jones dies Lexington Herald-Leader. 27 July 2014.