Not only has society as a whole been impacted by what is going in today's world, but the sport's landscape seems to be changing for the better as well. On Friday, it was announced that the Indiana University Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rename the Wildermuth Intramural Center after Bill Garrett, an IU basketball player (1948-51) who was the first African American to play in the Big Ten.
Now renamed the William Leon Garrett Fieldhouse, with the sign to show the Bill Garrett Fieldhouse, the change comes after Ora Wildermuth’s name was removed from the facility due to concerns about racist beliefs held by the IU alumnus and trustee. Wildermuth was a known racist and in 1945, he wrote, “I am and shall always remain absolutely and utterly opposed to social intermingling of the colored race with the White.”
IU President Michael McRobbie called for the change and had a message following the approval.
“Appropriate signage will be placed on the building to honor this great alumnus of Indiana University and one of its true courageous leaders in the integration and acceptance of African Americans in basketball at both the collegiate and professional level,” McRobbie wrote.
While Garrett's legacy runs far beyond the basketball court, he was a significant member of the IU basketball program as well. A two-time All-Big Ten honoree, Garrett led Indiana in scoring and rebounding in 1949, 1950 and 1951. In the 1951 season, he was an All-American following a season in which he averaged 13.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
His basketball career later extended to the Harlem Globetrotters and a 12-year stint as a head coach for Wood High School and Crispus Attucks. Unfortunately, Garrett died in 1974 as the result of a heart attack at the young age of 45.
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