Greater Columbus Basketball Legend Association
2014 GCBLA INDUCTEE
COLUMBUS, OHIO
Category: PLAYER
Recognition
Richard (Dick) Furry graduated from West High in January of 1956, one of the last classes to graduate mid-year in the Columbus school system. He was first named to the All City basketball team for the 1954- 55 season in which he averaged just over 17 points a game, and again as a senior when he averaged 23.7 points per game. At West Dick also played football and ran track where he was a two time city champ in the high jump and State champion for the high jump in 1955.
Dick attended The Ohio State University where he lettered in both basketball and track for three years (Freshmen were not eligible). He was a starter his junior year where he averaged 11.5 points a game and 10.7 rebounds a game. As a senior he lost the starting position to a young man named John Havlicek, and became the 6th man for the 1960 Buckeyes who won the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship, defeating California 75-55. Dick was selected as a co-captain for the 1960 team and was the recipient of The Big Ten Medal of Honor as the outstanding senior athletic scholar. Known as a scorer in high school he became an outstanding rebounder and is still in 8th place for the most rebounds in a single game for OSU with 24 at Wisconsin. Only Jerry Lucas and Frank Howard have more rebounds in a game at OSU.
Dick has 4 children, 11 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. His wife of 40 years, Margaret, passed away 2011 from the complications of dementia. As a CPA he worked for Ernst and Ernst for 8 years and then joined Day-Glo Color Corp as Treasurer for 26 years, the last 8 as President. He then worked for Deaconess Foundation for 8 years as Executive Director and President. Dick served two terms as President of the OSU Alumni Club of Cleveland and was Chairman of the Board of the Cleveland Ballet. He volunteers as a food packer at The Brookside Hunger Center, and teaches a Junior Achievement course to 6th graders at The Rocky River Middle School
Career Highlights
- He was first named to the All City basketball team for the 1954- 55 season while playing at West High School, in which he averaged just over 17 points a game, and again as a senior when he averaged 23.7 points per game.
- At West, Dick also played football and ran track where he was a two time City Champ in the high jump and State champion for the high jump in 1955.
- The Ohio State University where he lettered in both basketball and track for three years (Freshmen were not eligible).
- He was a starter his junior year where he averaged 11.5 points a game and 10.7 rebounds a game.
- In 1960, Dick received The Big Ten Medal of Honor as the outstanding senior athletic scholar.
- Outstanding rebounder and is still in 8th place for the most rebounds in a single game for OSU with 24 at Wisconsin.
RICHARD (DICK) FURRY
PLAYER
RICHARD (DICK) FURRY