Lew Beck (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Lewis William Beck, Jr. (April 19, 1922 – April 25, 1970) was an All-America
n college basketball
player who was captain of the United States Olympic basketball team
that won the Gold medal
at the 1948 Summer Olympics
. Before he began playing for Oregon State University
, he suffered a leg injury in World War II
.
Lew died of cancer in April 1970, his funeral was on April 7, 1970 in Portland, Oregon
. The Oregon State University basketball team honored him by including among its annual awards the Lew Beck Memorial Award, the award given to the player who is deemed to be the team's most outstanding newcomer. In 1981, Lew was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
.
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 college 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 who was captain of the United States Olympic basketball team
United States at the 1948 Winter Olympics
The United States competed at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland.- Medalists :- Alpine skiing:MenMen's combined...
that won the Gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
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...
. Before he began playing for Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, he suffered a leg injury 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...
.
Lew died of cancer in April 1970, his funeral was on April 7, 1970 in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. The Oregon State University basketball team honored him by including among its annual awards the Lew Beck Memorial Award, the award given to the player who is deemed to be the team's most outstanding newcomer. In 1981, Lew was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
Oregon 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...
.