IN MEMORY: Bob Kurland

Robert A. (Bob) Kurland, the most celebrated player in Oklahoma State Basketball history, passed away in his sleep Sunday morning at his home in south Florida after a long illness. Kurland received his bachelor of arts in philosophy from Oklahoma A&M in 1946. While on campus, he was a leader not only in the classroom, but also on the basketball court as well playing for the legendary Henry Iba and leading the Cowboys to their only back-to-back National Championships in men’s basketball in 1945 and 1946. He spent the majority of his career with Phillips Petroleum Company where he played a vital role in developing the self service gas station concept and provided management leadership in the agricultural and plastics divisions. Bob was the first American to win back-to-back gold medals in men’s basketball in the 1948 and 1952 Olympics. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (1961) because of his college and amateur career with the Phillips 66ers. He was also inducted into the OSU Athletic Hall of Fame and has been named ESPN’s Top 25 all-time in college basketball. Bob has served on the OSU Foundation Board of Governors and the OSU Centennial Adviser Commission. He was a life member of the OSU Alumni Association.