A statue commemorating the late Wichita State University and New York Knicks basketball star Dave Stallworth will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the entrance to WSU’s Koch Arena.

Stallworth, who died in March 2017, led WSU to its first NCAA Tournament in 1964 and its first No. 1 ranking later that year. He held WSU’s single-game scoring mark for nearly two decades.

Professional sculptor Ann Larose of Tucson, Ariz. was commissioned to create the life-size, bronze statue. It will feature a smiling 6-foot-7 Stallworth in a classic, jump-shot pose.

Selected No. 3 overall in the 1965 NBA Draft by the New York Knicks, Stallworth played eight NBA seasons, including the 1969-70 season, in which he contributed to the Knicks winning the NBA Championship. 

Stallworth was a charter member of the Shocker Sports Hall of Fame and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame. His jersey number, 42, is one of five retired by WSU.

Funds for the project were raised privately. The effort was spearheaded by an organizing committee that included two of Stallworth’s former teammates, Bob Powers and Mohamed Sharif, along with Jerry Aaron, Gary Austerman, Herb Krumsick and Bob Litan.

Any excess funds raised above the cost of the statue and its placement will be used to endow a Dave Stallworth Memorial Scholarship for WSU students majoring in elementary or secondary education, with a preference designated for African-American recipients.

Donations can be made through the WSU Foundation/WSU David Stallworth Memorial Fund, 1845 Fairmount St., Wichita, KS, 67260-0002 or online at www.foundation.wichita.edu/give (select WSU David Stallworth Memorial Fund from the drop-down list).

 

For more information on the project, contact the WSU Foundation at foundation@wichita.edu or 316-978-3040.