I have been to the National Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts; the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York; and the National Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. To say that the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in New Castle compares favorably to these three is an enormous understatement. It is a gem at any level, high school, college or the pros.
Executive Director of the Indiana Hall of Fame Roger Dickinson, his fine staff, and the Hall’s many volunteers made me feel at home the minute I stepped into the facility. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude for assisting in my research for this book.
For answering all of my questions I owe special thanks to Pat Aikman, Indiana All-Star game director for the series with Kentucky, and to Joe Gentry, public relations director for the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
Herb Schwomeyer’s Hoosier Hysteria book and Total Basketball: The Ultimate Basketball Encyclopedia were vitally important sources of information. I thank the sports information offices at Indiana State University, the University of Evansville, Purdue University, Indiana University, the University of Louisville, North Carolina State University, and the University of North Carolina. And a special thank you to Susan Davis, university archivist at Indiana State.
Bob Hammel, a former colleague of mine at the Indianapolis News sports department before he became the sports editor of the Bloomington Herald- Telephone, has always been someone I go to for advice about journalistic matters. He read several of my chapters and advised me to go forward as swiftly as possible with Glory Days. I thank him for his valued friendship and encouragement.
And to David Woods of the Indianapolis Star, also a former colleague of mine at the News. Thanks for encouraging me to tackle this project back in the fall of 2004. It has been a challenge and a joy.