Bobby Joe Hill
Encyclopedia
Tyrone Bobby Joe Hill was an American
basketball
player and was the leading scorer of the 1965-66 Texas Western College (now the University of Texas at El Paso
) team, helping the Miners win the 1966 NCAA basketball championship
. The victory is considered one of the most important wins in sports history — Texas Western started an all-black starting lineup, against the all-white University of Kentucky.
Bobby Joe Hill was the 5'10 point guard from Michigan on the Texas Western college basketball team that won the national title in 1966. Texas Western's win over the top-ranked Kentucky team, which was nicknamed "Rupp's Runts"in the title game in College Park, Maryland, is considered one of the most historic games in the annals of college basketball. The school's all-black starting five defeated a white Kentucky team, 72-65. Bobby Joe Hill was one of the most prominent players on the court. In the first half, he stole the ball from both Louie Dampier
and Tommy Kron
twice within the span of a minute and converted both steals into easy layups. He led all scorers with twenty points, and his plays were complemented by talented teammates Harry Flournoy
, Nevil Shed
, David Lattin, and Willie Worsley
. Don Haskins
coached Texas Western, and the legendary Adolph Rupp
directed Kentucky. The Miners' victory over the Kentucky Wildcats
was a landmark event in the history of civil right and sports desegregation, comparable to Jackie Robinson
's baseball tenure with the Brooklyn Dodgers, decisively proving that color of skin has no bearing on talent and ability. Of note is that Don Haskins and the entire Texas Western squad rose above racial threats, insults, vandalism, and violence throughout the 1965-1966 season to their against-all-odds triumph.
Bobby Joe Hill stayed in El Paso after his Texas Western career, married his college sweetheart, and retired as an executive with El Paso Natural Gas
. He died in 2002 of a myocardial infarction
at age 59. Hill's death was deeply mourned by his family and teammates, Coach Haskins, the sports world and his hometown. Bobby Joe Hill is interred at Restlawn Memorial Park in El Paso
, Texas
.
The story of Bobby Joe Hill and the 1966 Texas Western national championship has been immortalized in the film Glory Road
, which was released in the U.S. in January, 2006, forty years after the "fabulous five" forever altered the landscape of college basketball. Derek Luke was cast to play Bobby Joe in the movie.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 was the leading scorer of the 1965-66 Texas Western College (now the University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
) team, helping the Miners win the 1966 NCAA basketball championship
1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 22 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1966, and ended with the championship game on March 19 in College Park, Maryland...
. The victory is considered one of the most important wins in sports history — Texas Western started an all-black starting lineup, against the all-white University of Kentucky.
Bobby Joe Hill was the 5'10 point guard from Michigan on the Texas Western college basketball team that won the national title in 1966. Texas Western's win over the top-ranked Kentucky team, which was nicknamed "Rupp's Runts"in the title game in College Park, Maryland, is considered one of the most historic games in the annals of college basketball. The school's all-black starting five defeated a white Kentucky team, 72-65. Bobby Joe Hill was one of the most prominent players on the court. In the first half, he stole the ball from both Louie Dampier
Louie Dampier
Louis "Louie" Dampier is a retired American professional basketball player.A 6-foot-tall guard, Dampier is one of only a handful of men to play all nine seasons in the American Basketball Association , all with the Kentucky Colonels...
and Tommy Kron
Tommy Kron
Thomas M. "Tommy" Kron was an American former professional basketball player. A 6-5 guard, Kron, nicknamed "Tommy," played his rookie season with the St...
twice within the span of a minute and converted both steals into easy layups. He led all scorers with twenty points, and his plays were complemented by talented teammates Harry Flournoy
Harry Flournoy
Harry Flournoy is an African-American former college basketball player, originally from Gary, Indiana. He played college ball for Texas Western College, later called the University of Texas at El Paso, or UTEP; he made history when his team won an NCAA Division I National Championship with the...
, Nevil Shed
Nevil Shed
Nevil Shed attended Morris High school in 1962. He was a member of the Texas Western Miners team that won the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament National Championship. The team was coached by Don Haskins...
, David Lattin, and Willie Worsley
Willie Worsley
Willie Worsley was one of the guards for the Texas Western Miners basketball team during their now-legendary 1966 NCAA championship game against Kentucky...
. Don Haskins
Don Haskins
Donald Lee Haskins, nicknamed "The Bear" , was an American collegiate basketball coach and player. He played for three years under legendary coach Henry Iba at Oklahoma A&M...
coached Texas Western, and the legendary Adolph Rupp
Adolph Rupp
Adolph Frederick Rupp was one of the most successful coaches in the history of American college basketball. Rupp is fourth in total victories by a men's NCAA Division I college coach, winning 876 games in 41 years of coaching...
directed Kentucky. The Miners' victory over the Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
was a landmark event in the history of civil right and sports desegregation, comparable to Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
's baseball tenure with the Brooklyn Dodgers, decisively proving that color of skin has no bearing on talent and ability. Of note is that Don Haskins and the entire Texas Western squad rose above racial threats, insults, vandalism, and violence throughout the 1965-1966 season to their against-all-odds triumph.
Bobby Joe Hill stayed in El Paso after his Texas Western career, married his college sweetheart, and retired as an executive with El Paso Natural Gas
El Paso Natural Gas
El Paso Natural Gas is a system of natural gas pipelines that brings gas from the Permian Basin in Texas and the San Juan Basin in New Mexico and Colorado to West Texas, New Mexico, Nevada, California and Arizona. It also exports some natural gas to Mexico. It is owned by El Paso Corporation...
. He died in 2002 of a myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
at age 59. Hill's death was deeply mourned by his family and teammates, Coach Haskins, the sports world and his hometown. Bobby Joe Hill is interred at Restlawn Memorial Park in El Paso
El Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.
The story of Bobby Joe Hill and the 1966 Texas Western national championship has been immortalized in the film Glory Road
Glory Road (film)
Glory Road is an American sports film directed by James Gartner, based on a true story dealing with the events leading to the 1966 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, in which the late Don Haskins – played by Josh Lucas – head coach of the Texas Western College led a team...
, which was released in the U.S. in January, 2006, forty years after the "fabulous five" forever altered the landscape of college basketball. Derek Luke was cast to play Bobby Joe in the movie.