Bus Whitehead

Milton Edgar "Bus" Whitehead (January 13, 1928 – June 11, 2010).[1] was an American basketball player. He was an All-conference college player for the University of Nebraska and was an AAU All-American for league power Phillips 66.

Bus Whitehead
Whitehead with the Phillips 66ers
Personal information
Born(1928-01-13)January 13, 1928
Kansas City, Kansas
DiedJune 11, 2010(2010-06-11) (aged 82)
Lincoln, Nebraska
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolScottsbluff (Scottsbluff, Nebraska)
CollegeNebraska (1947–1950)
NBA draft1950 / Round: 7 / Pick: 75th overall
Selected by the Chicago Stags
PositionCenter / Power forward
Number14, 52
Career history
1950–1953Phillips 66ers
Career highlights and awards

Whitehead came to the Cornhuskers from Scottsbluff, Nebraska and led the Huskers to back to back Big Seven Conference titles in 1949 and 1950. In the 1948–49 season, Whitehead teamed with guard Claude Retherford as the Huskers tied Oklahoma for the Big Seven title. After Retherford's graduation, Whitehead became the focal point of the Nebraska offense for 1949–50. Averaging 15.7 points per game (then a school single-season record), Whitehead was the only unanimous member of the Big Seven all-conference first team.[2] He was also named an honorable mention All-American by the Associated Press.[3] Following the season, Whitehead became the first Nebraska player selected to play in the East-West college All-Star game.

After graduation, Whitehead was drafted by the Chicago Stags in the seventh round of the 1950 NBA draft. Instead, Whitehead chose to play for the Phillips 66ers of the Amateur Athletic Union and in 1952 was named an AAU All-American. After his time with the 66ers, Whitehead entered private business. He also spent a season as an assistant coach at his alma mater.[1]

Whitehead was named to the University of Nebraska Athletic Hall of Fame and the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. In 2011, the University of Nebraska named the court of their new practice facility the "Bus Whitehead Court," in honor of their All-American center.[4]

Bus Whitehead died on June 11, 2010, at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska.[1]

References
  1. "Obituary:Whitehead, Milton E. "Bus" Jr". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
  2. "Bus Whitehead Unanimous Choice For All-Big Seven Cage Honors". The Lincoln Star. 12 March 1950. p. 19. Retrieved September 3, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "1950 AP All-America Basketball Team". The Bee. 9 March 1950. p. 28. Retrieved September 3, 2014 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Nebraska Unveils Hendricks Training Complex". Scout.com. Retrieved September 3, 2014.
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