Tuesday, April 05, 2011 12:16:03 PM
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/157635015
Artis 'The A-train' Gilmore scores spot in Hall of Fame
By Jeff Elliott, The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville
April 05--The long wait is over for Artis Gilmore.
The 7-foot-2 gentle giant who led Jacksonville University's basketball team to its greatest days including a berth in the 1970 NCAA championship game and went on to an all-star career in both the NBA and ABA, is finally headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
He will be enshrined with nine others, including former NBA stars Dennis Rodman and Chris Mullen, in the Hall's class of 2011 on Aug. 11-13 in Springfield, Mass. The announcement was made Monday, though Gilmore was privately told about it last week.
The call "was so close to April Fools', I thought somebody might be playing a joke," Gilmore, 61, said Monday from Houston, where he was attending the NCAA Tournament title game between Butler and Connecticut. "I was real excited. My heart was throbbing, just pounding."
Gilmore, nicknamed "The A-Train," earned his entry into the Hall through a newly created category that recognizes former ABA greats. He is the first who played college basketball at a Jacksonville school to be elected into the Hall of Fame.
Gilmore finished his pro career with 24,941 points, 14th in pro basketball history. Yet he waited more than 15 years for Hall of Fame selection since first becoming a finalist in 1996, and his eligibility for inclusion was set to expire next year. For the past three years, he did not receive a single vote of support from a panel of nine members serving on the Hall's screening committee.
"There was kind of a wall there," said the soft-spoken Gilmore. "I do remember getting caught up in a roller coaster of emotions at one time. I've tried not to attach so much emotion in recent years.
"It's like a guy trying to hit his 500th home run. I'm glad to have it behind me. It's one of the best things that could happen to me in my life at this stage."
Gilmore played two years at JU and led the Dolphins to the 1970 NCAA championship game, a loss to John Wooden-coached UCLA. He averaged 22.7 rebounds per game in his two years at JU, still the highest average in NCAA history 40 years later.
"When it comes to Jacksonville University basketball, Artis Gilmore is the gold standard for the young men in our program," said current JU coach Cliff Warren. "He and his teammates set the bar very high for our program. ... He has done so much for our program that I can't begin to thank him enough."
Gilmore, who earned his degree from JU, was the first player chosen in the 1971 ABA Draft by the Kentucky Colonels, and went on to earn the league's MVP and Rookie of the Year award that season. He led Kentucky to the 1975 ABA championship.
In 1975 Gilmore was the top pick by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA re-entry draft, after the two leagues merged. He went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA with Chicago, San Antonio and Boston.
He remains the NBA career leader for field goal percentage (.599). He was named to 11 all-star teams (six NBA, five ABA) in his 17 seasons in the two leagues.
Gilmore averaged 22.3 points and 17.1 rebounds per game in his five seasons in the ABA, and 17.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in the NBA. He played one season for a team in Italy and then retired in 1989.
In 2007 Gilmore was hired by his alma mater as the special assistant to the president, helping raise money, develop relationships in the community and reconnect fellow alumni with JU. He has also served as the color analyst during Dolphins basketball radio broadcasts the past several seasons.
"This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Artis and on behalf of the entire JU community, we congratulate him on receiving this recognition," said JU President Kerry Romesburg. "Artis has meant so much to the university, from his days as a student athlete to his current position with the school, that it thrills everyone to see him receive this prestigious honor and to take his place among the best in the history that have ever played basketball."
The Times-Union's Gene Frenette and Chet Fussman contributed to this report.
Jeff Elliot: (904) 359-4292
Gilmore at a glance Size: 7-foot-2, 250 pounds. Born: Chipley, Fla. College: Gardner-Webb JC, Jacksonville University Career highlights - Led nation in rebounding in 1970 and 1971. His college career rebounding average of 22.7 per game remains No. 1 in NCAA history. - Helped lead JU to 1970 NCAA Championship game. - ABA MVP and Rookie of the Year in 1975. - Holds NBA record for career field goal percentage (.599). - Played 17 years in the NBA and ABA, made the All-Star team 11 times.
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My personal pre-jordan era Bull. He hit a golf - ball in my backyard when I was about 9 years old, and signed a golf score card for me... Watched him tee of later with a huge double shafted driver (he shanked it OB maybe went 30 yards).
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/157635015
Artis 'The A-train' Gilmore scores spot in Hall of Fame
By Jeff Elliott, The Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville
April 05--The long wait is over for Artis Gilmore.
The 7-foot-2 gentle giant who led Jacksonville University's basketball team to its greatest days including a berth in the 1970 NCAA championship game and went on to an all-star career in both the NBA and ABA, is finally headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
He will be enshrined with nine others, including former NBA stars Dennis Rodman and Chris Mullen, in the Hall's class of 2011 on Aug. 11-13 in Springfield, Mass. The announcement was made Monday, though Gilmore was privately told about it last week.
The call "was so close to April Fools', I thought somebody might be playing a joke," Gilmore, 61, said Monday from Houston, where he was attending the NCAA Tournament title game between Butler and Connecticut. "I was real excited. My heart was throbbing, just pounding."
Gilmore, nicknamed "The A-Train," earned his entry into the Hall through a newly created category that recognizes former ABA greats. He is the first who played college basketball at a Jacksonville school to be elected into the Hall of Fame.
Gilmore finished his pro career with 24,941 points, 14th in pro basketball history. Yet he waited more than 15 years for Hall of Fame selection since first becoming a finalist in 1996, and his eligibility for inclusion was set to expire next year. For the past three years, he did not receive a single vote of support from a panel of nine members serving on the Hall's screening committee.
"There was kind of a wall there," said the soft-spoken Gilmore. "I do remember getting caught up in a roller coaster of emotions at one time. I've tried not to attach so much emotion in recent years.
"It's like a guy trying to hit his 500th home run. I'm glad to have it behind me. It's one of the best things that could happen to me in my life at this stage."
Gilmore played two years at JU and led the Dolphins to the 1970 NCAA championship game, a loss to John Wooden-coached UCLA. He averaged 22.7 rebounds per game in his two years at JU, still the highest average in NCAA history 40 years later.
"When it comes to Jacksonville University basketball, Artis Gilmore is the gold standard for the young men in our program," said current JU coach Cliff Warren. "He and his teammates set the bar very high for our program. ... He has done so much for our program that I can't begin to thank him enough."
Gilmore, who earned his degree from JU, was the first player chosen in the 1971 ABA Draft by the Kentucky Colonels, and went on to earn the league's MVP and Rookie of the Year award that season. He led Kentucky to the 1975 ABA championship.
In 1975 Gilmore was the top pick by the Chicago Bulls in the NBA re-entry draft, after the two leagues merged. He went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA with Chicago, San Antonio and Boston.
He remains the NBA career leader for field goal percentage (.599). He was named to 11 all-star teams (six NBA, five ABA) in his 17 seasons in the two leagues.
Gilmore averaged 22.3 points and 17.1 rebounds per game in his five seasons in the ABA, and 17.1 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in the NBA. He played one season for a team in Italy and then retired in 1989.
In 2007 Gilmore was hired by his alma mater as the special assistant to the president, helping raise money, develop relationships in the community and reconnect fellow alumni with JU. He has also served as the color analyst during Dolphins basketball radio broadcasts the past several seasons.
"This is a tremendous and well-deserved honor for Artis and on behalf of the entire JU community, we congratulate him on receiving this recognition," said JU President Kerry Romesburg. "Artis has meant so much to the university, from his days as a student athlete to his current position with the school, that it thrills everyone to see him receive this prestigious honor and to take his place among the best in the history that have ever played basketball."
The Times-Union's Gene Frenette and Chet Fussman contributed to this report.
Jeff Elliot: (904) 359-4292
Gilmore at a glance Size: 7-foot-2, 250 pounds. Born: Chipley, Fla. College: Gardner-Webb JC, Jacksonville University Career highlights - Led nation in rebounding in 1970 and 1971. His college career rebounding average of 22.7 per game remains No. 1 in NCAA history. - Helped lead JU to 1970 NCAA Championship game. - ABA MVP and Rookie of the Year in 1975. - Holds NBA record for career field goal percentage (.599). - Played 17 years in the NBA and ABA, made the All-Star team 11 times.
------
My personal pre-jordan era Bull. He hit a golf - ball in my backyard when I was about 9 years old, and signed a golf score card for me... Watched him tee of later with a huge double shafted driver (he shanked it OB maybe went 30 yards).
