Clyde Edward Lovellette, 86, of North Manchester, Indiana, died at 8:36 pm, March 9, 2016 at Timbercrest Healthcare Center in North Manchester. He was born September 7, 1929 in Petersburg, Indiana to John and Myrtle (Thaxton) Lovellette.
Clyde was a 1948 graduate of Garfield High School in Terre Haute, attended Kansas University, and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Ball State University. He helped Kansas win the 1952 NCAA Championship. He was on the 1952 Summer Olympics gold medal team in Helsinki, Finland. Clyde was the ninth pick in the first round of the 1952 NBA Draft by the Minneapolis Lakers. His professional career spanned twelve years with the Minneapolis Lakers, Cincinnati Royals, St. Louis Hawks and Boston Celtics. Clyde was the first player to win an NCAA Championship, NBA Championship, and earn an Olympic Gold Medal. He had his KU jersey retired in 1992. While at KU he was a member of the K Club, KU Alumni, the Sigma Chi Fraternity, and was named a Significant Sig. Clyde was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988, and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
He married Judy (Wray) Woods in Chatham, Massachusetts on August 28, 1970. After retiring he participated in a variety of activities including serving as Sheriff of Vigo County, Indiana, farming, business activities, and then found a position at Whites Residential Services, in Wabash County, where he taught 16 years and coached basketball. He was a former Wabash County Councilman, and a former member of the Manchester Parks and Recreation Board.He was a member of the Wabash Friends Church and the North Manchester Rotary Club. Clyde was a coach most of his life and was also named a Kentucky Colonel.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Lovellette of North Manchester, four children, Robb (Charlie) Lovellette of LaFontaine, Indiana, Linda (Robert) McLeaish of Indianapolis, Indiana, Cindy Heckelsberg of Millbrook, Illinois, and Cherie (Jim) Doyle of Indianapolis, 12 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Barry Lovellette, first wife Sally (Wheeler) Lovellette, three brothers, and four sisters.
A memorial service will be at the Wabash Friends Church, 3563 S. St. Rd. 13, Wabash at a later date. Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Ave. Wabash.
The preferred memorials are 85 Hope Free Clinic or Grace on Wings, Box 42788, Indianapolis, Indiana 46242.
The memorial guest book for Clyde may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.