Wally Johansen
Encyclopedia
Wallace A. "Wally" Johansen (August 26, 1917 – September 8, 1971) was a college basketball guard who played for the University of Oregon
when it won the inaugural NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament championship in 1938–39
.
, Johansen played basketball at Astoria High School
, graduating in 1935 after helping the Fishermen win two consecutive state championships. That same year, his high school coach, John Warren
, was hired as the freshman basketball coach at the University of Oregon
, and he recruited Johansen and teammate Bobby Anet
to enroll at Oregon.
varsity, forming a reliable backcourt with Anet, his teammate since junior high school. In his senior season of 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 advance to the inaugural 1939 NCAA basketball championship
, where they faced Ohio State
in the final game. As Ohio State focused on stopping Oregon's frontcourt
players, known as the "Tall Firs," Johansen and Anet ran the fast break and took control of the game. Johansen scored 9 points to help lead Oregon to a convincing 46–33 victory. Johansen had his jersey (#32) retired, and was later inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
as well as the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
. His law school studies were interrupted by his service in World War II
, but following the war, he earned his law degree from Oregon in 1948. He became an associate in the Coos Bay, Oregon
law firm McKeown & Newhouse, eventually becoming a partner in the firm. From 1967 to 1968, Johansen served as President of the Oregon State Bar
. He died of a heart attack in 1971.
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 :...
when it won the inaugural NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament championship in 1938–39
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...
.
Early life
Born in Astoria, OregonAstoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
, Johansen played basketball at Astoria High School
Astoria High School (Oregon)
Astoria High School is a public high school in Astoria, Oregon. The school is located on the edge of Youngs Bay, on the south side of town. The school's mascot is the Fighting Fisherman, named Stomper.-Academics:...
, graduating in 1935 after helping the Fishermen win two consecutive state championships. That same year, his high school coach, John Warren
John A. Warren
-Basketball:-External links:* * at College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com...
, was hired as the freshman basketball coach at 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 :...
, and he recruited Johansen and teammate Bobby Anet
Bobby Anet
Charles Robert "Bobby" Anet was a college basketball guard who helped guide the University of Oregon to win the inaugural NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament championship in 1938–39...
to enroll at Oregon.
College
At Oregon, Johansen played three seasons for the DucksOregon 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...
varsity, forming a reliable backcourt with Anet, his teammate since junior high school. In his senior season of 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 advance to the inaugural 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...
, where they faced 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 final game. As Ohio State focused on stopping Oregon's frontcourt
Frontcourt
Frontcourt is a term used in basketball referring to the small forward, power forward, and center positions as a cohesive unit....
players, known as the "Tall Firs," Johansen and Anet ran the fast break and took control of the game. Johansen scored 9 points to help lead Oregon to a convincing 46–33 victory. Johansen had his jersey (#32) retired, and was later 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...
as well as the University of Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
After basketball
After he graduated from Oregon, Johansen enrolled at the University of Oregon School of LawUniversity of Oregon School of Law
The University of Oregon School of Law is a public law school in the U.S. state of Oregon. Housed in the Knight Law Center, it is Oregon's only state funded law school. The school, founded in 1884, is located on the University of Oregon campus in Eugene, on the corner of 15th and Agate streets,...
. His law school studies were interrupted by his service 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...
, but following the war, he earned his law degree from Oregon in 1948. He became an associate in the Coos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay, Oregon
Coos Bay is a city located in Coos County, Oregon, United States, where the Coos River enters Coos Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The city borders the city of North Bend, and together they are often referred to as one entity called either Coos Bay-North Bend or the Bay Area...
law firm McKeown & Newhouse, eventually becoming a partner in the firm. From 1967 to 1968, Johansen served as President of the Oregon State Bar
Oregon State Bar
The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession. The public corporation is part of the Oregon Judicial Department...
. He died of a heart attack in 1971.