KANSAS = CRADLE OF BASKETBALL

Dr. Porrest C. Allen,
University of Kansas.

On Novenber 20, 1959, when Dr. Janes Hatenith, the inventor of basketball, died
at hie home in this quiet college tom of Lawenoe, Kansas, he had firmly established a
Kensag as the cradle of basketball. Tn hie forty years service at the Uhiversity of
Kansas Dr. Haimudth hed eecemplished someting no otter nan tnd done for sport in
this state.

aisick satatislihia Ue eek ih adaaielh Voted Mitek, eel; ee,
in 1891, Dr. Haienith migrated to Denver, Colorado, in 1895, as director of the
Denver Y.M.C.A. lie then moved to the University of Kensas as director of physical
edusation. In addition to his duties as director here, his primary engagement was
caused by the fact that he was a minister of the gospel and the Chaneellor engaged
nin tn Sant pepe tt etaland Geliiy eunenntions 0% Gn Univeetty. le and Alonso
Stagg were ministers and they both followed the seme course in physieal training at
Springfield Y.oU.Ceehke Colleges

“he happhest nomant of ny life," Dr. Neieufth said, “eano in 1956", when he
attended the Olyzpic Guws in Berlin and saw the game of basketball played for the
first tine in international Olyupie competition. ‘he Father of Basketball was sent
to Berlin following a drive for funds, sponsored by the National Association of
Sasmatett Cenaieilly wie exeuiahere: officials and players who wanted to have Dr.
Neisnith present when the teans of all nations filed in behind thelr respective flags.
Dre Naismith addressed the assenbled players before the start of the tournament and
ednitted that in so doing his eyes wore misty.

It has indeed been a durable pleasure to hnve been assdciated with Dr. Naismith

‘from 1902 to 1959. Yor thirty-nime years I had come to imew the good doctor as a
virile, aggressive, forceful, Christian gentleman. He was a man's man. Being a
Canadien of Scottish extraction he loved the hard and rigorous struggle for human
welfere. Basketball, the product of one man's brain, stands alone as one of our