John Dick (basketball)
Encyclopedia
John H. Dick was an American
former basketball
player and Rear Admiral
in the United States Navy
.
and attended the University of Oregon
, where he was a 6 in 4 in (1.93 m) forward on the Ducks basketball
team from 1938 to 1940.
In 1939, the Ducks won the Northern Division of the Pacific Coast Conference
, and then defeated Southern Division champion California
to win the conference championship and a berth in the 1939 NCAA basketball championship
, the first edition of the tournament. The Ducks defeated Texas
and Oklahoma
to advance to the championship game against Ohio State
. In the championship game, Dick led all scorers with 15 points as the Ducks won 46–33.
Following the championship season, Dick was an All-America
n for the Ducks in 1940.
with the attack on Pearl Harbor
, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy
as an aviator, eventually achieving the rank of rear admiral
. From 1967 to 1969, he was the captain of the USS Saratoga supercarrier
. He retired from the Navy in 1973.
in 1980, and in 1993, was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame. Like all starters on their 1939 championship team
, Dick's number (18) has been retired by the Ducks. Each year, the Ducks present the Rear Admiral John Dick Award to the team's best defender.
Dick died on September 22, 2011 at the age of 92.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former 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 Rear Admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
.
College basketball career
Dick was born and grew up in The Dalles, OregonThe Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
and attended the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, where he was a 6 in 4 in (1.93 m) forward on the Ducks basketball
Oregon Ducks men's basketball
Oregon Ducks men’s college basketball is an intercollegiate basketball program that competes in the NCAA Division I and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference, representing the University of Oregon. The Ducks play their home games at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon, then coached by Howard Hobson, won...
team from 1938 to 1940.
In 1939, the Ducks won the Northern Division of the Pacific Coast Conference
Pacific Coast Conference
The Pacific Coast Conference was a college athletic conference in the United States which existed from 1915 to 1959. Though the Pacific-12 Conference claims the PCC's history as part of its own, the older league had a completely different charter and was disbanded in 1959 due to a major crisis...
, and then defeated Southern Division champion California
California Golden Bears
The California Golden Bears is the nickname used for 29 varsity athletic programs and various club teams of the University of California, Berkeley...
to win the conference championship and a berth in the 1939 NCAA basketball championship
1939 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page.-See also:* 1939 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
, the first edition of the tournament. The Ducks defeated Texas
Texas Longhorns men's basketball
The Texas Longhorns men's basketball team represents The University of Texas at Austin in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Longhorns currently compete in the Big 12 Conference....
and Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball
-1908-1980:The Sooners enjoyed moderate success on the court during this era, posting only 16 losing records in their first 72 seasons. They were coached by 9 different coaches during this period, beginning with Bennie Owen , and ending with Dave Bliss in 1980...
to advance to the championship game against Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
. In the championship game, Dick led all scorers with 15 points as the Ducks won 46–33.
Following the championship season, Dick was an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n for the Ducks in 1940.
U.S. Navy
After the United States entered World War IIWorld 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...
with the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
, Dick enlisted in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
as an aviator, eventually achieving the rank of rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
. From 1967 to 1969, he was the captain of the USS Saratoga supercarrier
Supercarrier
Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial descriptive term for the largest type of aircraft carrier, usually displacing over 70,000 long tons.Supercarrier is an unofficial...
. He retired from the Navy in 1973.
Legacy
Dick was a charter member of the Oregon Sports Hall of FameOregon Sports Hall of Fame
The Oregon Sports Hall of Fame honors Oregon athletes, teams, coaches, and others who have made a significant contribution to sports in Oregon. The first class was inducted in 1980, with new inductees added in the fall...
in 1980, and in 1993, was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletic Hall of Fame. Like all starters on their 1939 championship team
1938–39 Oregon Ducks men's basketball team
The 1938–39 Oregon Ducks men's basketball team was a Division I college basketball team that represented the University of Oregon. The Ducks, coached by Howard Hobson, played in the Pacific Coast Conference and compiled a 29–5 won–loss record in regular and postseason competition...
, Dick's number (18) has been retired by the Ducks. Each year, the Ducks present the Rear Admiral John Dick Award to the team's best defender.
Dick died on September 22, 2011 at the age of 92.