Hall of Fame Spotlight: Jim Williams

Temple's sixth leading career scorer at the time of his graduation, Jim Williams is the only player in Owls' history to lead his team in scoring and rebounding for three seasons.

Williams finished his career with 1,306 points, while also setting the school record for career rebounds with 1,031 boards (currently 3^rd). He was Temple's leading scorer and rebounder during the 1963-64, 1964-65 and 1965-66 seasons and led the Owls into the 1964 NCAA Tournament and 1966 National Invitation Tournament.

The Norristown, Pa. native averaged 17.8 points and 14.9 rebounds per game as a senior, making the second of two All-Big 5 teams. Inducted into the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame in 1983, he also earned All-East and All-Conference honors during his stellar career.

Before coming to Temple, he earned a host of honors at Norristown High School in basketball and track. Following his Temple career, he played professional basketball in Italy before returning to the Philadelphia area to work for American Frozen Foods and later Assets Montco.

Talk about your decision to attend Temple after starring at Norristown High?

"I had like 147 offers when I was a senior, and even had some letters during my junior year. Despite this, Temple was an easy decision for me. Most people never heard of Bernard Farbman. He was a pharmacist in Norristown and from the time I was in seventh or eighth grade he would talk to me about Temple and Harry Litwack. So, Bernie Farbman and Harry Litwack are the two reasons I wound up at Temple.

I spent the summer between my junior and senior year in high school at Golden Slipper Square Club Camp with David Dubrow. That was an interesting experience and during that summer I went over to Harry Litwack's basketball camp. Coach Litwack and I talked for about three hours. During that conversation he convinced me that Temple was the best choice for me despite all the offers from Kansas and Michigan and Michigan States and UCLAs. He said, 'if you are smart you will stay home. There is only one guy who went away to school (successfully)…and that is Wilt Chamberlain.'"

He went on to tell me that Temple has a great Alumni Association, and I would never have to worry about a job. Long story short, he sold me on Temple."

Do you recall playing freshman basketball for Temple? How was that experience and getting acclimated to college life?

"There was a great deal of anticipation. We could not wait until our freshman year was over. Back in those days the big thing was when the freshman played the varsity, and we could beat the varsity. We had a heck of a freshman team. There was Kenny Morgan at one forward. Joe Burton at another forward, Al Gander, Gary Sartrappy and Jeff White.

It was hard knowing you could play and that you could play with anyone on the varsity team. But also tough that we could not play on the varsity due to NCAA rules."

Talk about moving from the freshman team to becoming the star of the Owls varsity squad that would win 18 games and make the NCAA as a sophomore?

"It was a great experience. I adjusted to playing on the varsity and enjoyed it. Most of the time, for every team I played for, I was always the leading scorer and rebounder. The rebounding just came naturally as I had natural timing. I would study my teammates and know which side of the basket the ball would go if they missed their shot."

You would go on to lead the team in scoring and rebounding all three seasons and are the only player in school history to accomplish this feat. What are your fondest memories of your time as an Owl?

"I played all three years and did not get injured. That was something I am thankful for and Teddy Quedenfeld, our athletic trainer, is a big reason for that. No one in the universe could tape an ankle like Teddy could.

I had great memories from the Quaker City Tournament, and after those games I knew I could play with anyone in the country. I held my own against all the great ballplayers in the tournament.

If I had to do anything over again, I would work on developing a hook shot while I was in college. I finally developed one as a professional and I could not miss. I called it the death hook because anytime I got the ball in the pivot down low, I just turned and put it in. It was taught to me by Hank Slider in Allentown. It was a shame I did not know Hank when I was in high school."

Following your career, you had many possible paths in basketball and chose to play overseas. What went into that decision?

"I was drafted in the fourth round by the Chicago Bulls. I was heartbroken because the Chicago Bulls were an expansion team. I ended up being the last man cut on that squad. Guy Rodgers was on the Bulls and the two of us were playing there for a while.

I then met Jack Mathis, who owned an advertising company, and I was very interested in advertising. So, I wound up playing for his AAU team, the Jamaco Saints for a year. I had a good year and made several all-star teams and earned All-America honors from that league.

After the AAU Tournament was over, I went to South America with the team and ended up having several offers to play down there. We didn't win the tournament, and that is the only thing that counted with me.

Lou Rossini, the NYU Basketball coach, then called me and asked if I would like to go to Italy for a week, all expenses paid. So, I go to Italy, and I did not know it at the time, but the players invited were actually trying out for the Italian League. On the trip there was Cliff Anderson (St. Joe's), Steve Sullivan (Georgetown) and others. All the players got a job except Cliff Anderson, and I felt bad for that. He was trying to play the pivot at 6'4" and teams over there did not buy that.
The owner of the team had two airplanes. He had a twin-engine Beechcraft and Russian model of a Lear jet and that is how we traveled.

So that is how I ended up playing in Italy. I never expected to spend six years in Italy. I was the leading scorer and rebounder in the league for four seasons. In 1970, the year that we won the European Championship, I was the league's Most Valuable Player. The Italians call it the "Mr. Basket Award."

I received a trophy almost 50 years after the fact. Albo Giordani, the editor of an Italian publication, wound up with my trophy and it stayed on his mantle until he died. After he died his son found the trophy and reached out to a teammate of mine and eventually got the trophy to me.

Lastly, talk about your business career away from basketball?1

"I spent a total of 10 years in Italy. I came home in 1977 and took a job with American Frozen Foods. I started at the lowest level, selling freezer plans.    My biggest disappointment was I could not land a job selling computers. That was my dream job.

I spent about 12 years with American Frozen Foods. After that I went into business with a coworker for a ear before taking a job through the church as the Executive Director of a small non-profit company called Assets Montco.   Assets was an acronym for A Service for Self-Employment, Training and Support.    We would teach people how to run their own businesses successfully.

Ricky Harper was my biggest success story. He started a very successful computer cleaning business, and later sold the business for over a million dollars. So being part of this company was one of the most worthwhile things I have done in my whole life because you helped people change their life's perspectives and do better for themselves.

Another success story was Ray Bibbo. He had a small catering firm with his cousin. They did not understand anything about advertising. So, we ran a little ad in the local newspaper and from that came 24 catering jobs. He eventually got his business up to about 32 employees.   He survived the pandemic and still going strong.

I retired in 2011 and now I work for the church."

Temple University Athletics

Hall of Fame Spotlight: Jim Williams

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