Temple University Athletics
Temple Athletics Mourns Loss of Men's Basketball Legend Bill Mlkvy '52
12.16.24 | Men's Basketball
Temple Athletics and the University community are saddened by the loss of men's basketball great William 'Bill' Mlkvy '52, who passed away on December 12.
Mlkvy, a member of the Temple men's basketball program from 1949-52, was affectionately known as "The Owl without a Vowel" and made his mark during his three seasons in the Cherry & White.
As a sophomore, he averaged 16.3 points per game but really turned it on as a junior. In 1950-51, he was named First Team All-American after a season that saw him average 29.2 points per game which still stands as a Temple single-season record. During that year, he scored 73 points against Wilkes College - also a program single-game mark - and at one point registered an NCAA-record 54 straight.
Mlkvy set numerous records by the time he finished his career as an Owl. He still holds the career points per game mark, as he averaged 21.1 points per contest over 73 games, and is atop the single-season lists for most field goals in one season (303), most field goals in a game (32), and most rebounds in a season (472). Mlkvy still ranks in the top 20 on the all-time scoring list with 1,539 career points despite playing just three seasons.
The 1952 graduate was a territorial pick of the NBA's Philadelphia Warriors and played for one season before continuing his schooling at Temple's Dental School. Upon completion of dental school, Mlkvy enlisted in the Army as a dentist and served for six years, eventually reaching the rank of major and serving in the Korean War.
Mlkvy, a member of the Temple men's basketball program from 1949-52, was affectionately known as "The Owl without a Vowel" and made his mark during his three seasons in the Cherry & White.
As a sophomore, he averaged 16.3 points per game but really turned it on as a junior. In 1950-51, he was named First Team All-American after a season that saw him average 29.2 points per game which still stands as a Temple single-season record. During that year, he scored 73 points against Wilkes College - also a program single-game mark - and at one point registered an NCAA-record 54 straight.
Mlkvy set numerous records by the time he finished his career as an Owl. He still holds the career points per game mark, as he averaged 21.1 points per contest over 73 games, and is atop the single-season lists for most field goals in one season (303), most field goals in a game (32), and most rebounds in a season (472). Mlkvy still ranks in the top 20 on the all-time scoring list with 1,539 career points despite playing just three seasons.
The 1952 graduate was a territorial pick of the NBA's Philadelphia Warriors and played for one season before continuing his schooling at Temple's Dental School. Upon completion of dental school, Mlkvy enlisted in the Army as a dentist and served for six years, eventually reaching the rank of major and serving in the Korean War.
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