John Travilla Ramsay (February 21, 1925 April 28, 2014) was an
American basketball coach, commonly known as "Dr. Jack" (as he held an
earned doctorate). He was best known for leading the Portland Trail
Blazers to the 1977 NBA championship, and for his broadcasting work
with the Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat, and for ESPN TV and ESPN
Radio. Ramsay was among the most respected coaches in NBA history and
a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the
winner of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for the 200910 NBA
season.Growing up in Milford, Connecticut, Jack Ramsay was encouraged
to participate in sports in grade school by his parents, Anne and
John. With his family moving to a Philadelphia suburb, Ramsay
graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1942. Years after playing
basketball, baseball and soccer in high school, he was inducted into
the school's Wall of Fame in 1979. Strongly encouraged by his mother
to attend college, Ramsay entered Saint Joseph's College. Ramsay's
college career was interrupted by three years of service in the US
Navy during World War II. Ramsay played both basketball and baseball
at St. Joseph's. In his senior year, Ramsay was coached in baseball by
Pep Young, a teammate of professional baseball star Ty Cobb. In 1949,
Ramsay became the first member of his family to receive a college
bachelor's degree. In 1962, Ramsay obtained his master's degree and in
1963 his doctorate degree in education, both from the University of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.[citation needed]Growing up in Milford,
Connecticut, Jack Ramsay was encouraged to participate in sports in
grade school by his parents, Anne and John. With his family moving to
a Philadelphia suburb, Ramsay graduated from Upper Darby High School
in 1942. Years after playing basketball, baseball and soccer in high
school, he was inducted into the school's Wall of Fame in 1979.
Strongly encouraged by his mother to attend college, Ramsay entered
Saint Joseph's College. Ramsay's college career was interrupted by
three years of service in the US Navy during World War II. Ramsay
played both basketball and baseball at St. Joseph's. In his senior
year, Ramsay was coached in baseball by Pep Young, a teammate of
professional baseball star Ty Cobb. In 1949, Ramsay became the first
member of his family to receive a college bachelor's degree. In 1962,
Ramsay obtained his master's degree and in 1963 his doctorate degree
in education, both from the University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia.[citation needed]After graduation, Ramsay played six
seasons of professional basketball in the Eastern Pennsylvania
Basketball League. As a sophomore playing guard, he was the
second-leading scorer for the Harrisburg Senators in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. Ramsay averaged 14 points in his career playing for the
Senators and the Sunbury, Pennsylvania professional team. To
supplement his playing income, he coached basketball at St. James High
School for Boys in Chester, Pennsylvania and later at Mount Pleasant
High School, 1953-4, in Wilmington, Delaware.After coaching in the
high school and minor-league ranks during the early postwar years,
Ramsay became head coach at St Joseph's in 1955. Ramsay got the job
after accidentally meeting the college's moderator of athletics at a
Philadelphia Phillies baseball game. Ramsay was hired as coach for the
1955-56 basketball season for $3,500.
American basketball coach, commonly known as "Dr. Jack" (as he held an
earned doctorate). He was best known for leading the Portland Trail
Blazers to the 1977 NBA championship, and for his broadcasting work
with the Indiana Pacers, the Miami Heat, and for ESPN TV and ESPN
Radio. Ramsay was among the most respected coaches in NBA history and
a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He was the
winner of the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award for the 200910 NBA
season.Growing up in Milford, Connecticut, Jack Ramsay was encouraged
to participate in sports in grade school by his parents, Anne and
John. With his family moving to a Philadelphia suburb, Ramsay
graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1942. Years after playing
basketball, baseball and soccer in high school, he was inducted into
the school's Wall of Fame in 1979. Strongly encouraged by his mother
to attend college, Ramsay entered Saint Joseph's College. Ramsay's
college career was interrupted by three years of service in the US
Navy during World War II. Ramsay played both basketball and baseball
at St. Joseph's. In his senior year, Ramsay was coached in baseball by
Pep Young, a teammate of professional baseball star Ty Cobb. In 1949,
Ramsay became the first member of his family to receive a college
bachelor's degree. In 1962, Ramsay obtained his master's degree and in
1963 his doctorate degree in education, both from the University of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.[citation needed]Growing up in Milford,
Connecticut, Jack Ramsay was encouraged to participate in sports in
grade school by his parents, Anne and John. With his family moving to
a Philadelphia suburb, Ramsay graduated from Upper Darby High School
in 1942. Years after playing basketball, baseball and soccer in high
school, he was inducted into the school's Wall of Fame in 1979.
Strongly encouraged by his mother to attend college, Ramsay entered
Saint Joseph's College. Ramsay's college career was interrupted by
three years of service in the US Navy during World War II. Ramsay
played both basketball and baseball at St. Joseph's. In his senior
year, Ramsay was coached in baseball by Pep Young, a teammate of
professional baseball star Ty Cobb. In 1949, Ramsay became the first
member of his family to receive a college bachelor's degree. In 1962,
Ramsay obtained his master's degree and in 1963 his doctorate degree
in education, both from the University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia.[citation needed]After graduation, Ramsay played six
seasons of professional basketball in the Eastern Pennsylvania
Basketball League. As a sophomore playing guard, he was the
second-leading scorer for the Harrisburg Senators in Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania. Ramsay averaged 14 points in his career playing for the
Senators and the Sunbury, Pennsylvania professional team. To
supplement his playing income, he coached basketball at St. James High
School for Boys in Chester, Pennsylvania and later at Mount Pleasant
High School, 1953-4, in Wilmington, Delaware.After coaching in the
high school and minor-league ranks during the early postwar years,
Ramsay became head coach at St Joseph's in 1955. Ramsay got the job
after accidentally meeting the college's moderator of athletics at a
Philadelphia Phillies baseball game. Ramsay was hired as coach for the
1955-56 basketball season for $3,500.
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