John McConathy
John R. McConathy (April 9, 1930 – April 19, 2016) was an American professional basketball player and educator, originally from Bienville Parish in North Louisiana.[1] McConathy was selected in the 1951 NBA Draft by the Syracuse Nationals after a collegiate career at Northwestern State in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in which he was an All-American player.[1] He played for the Milwaukee Hawks in 1951–52 and averaged 1.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists per contest in 11 games.[1]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 9, 1930 Sailes, Louisiana |
| Died | April 19, 2016 (aged 86) Bossier City, Louisiana |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Northwestern State (1947–1951) |
| NBA draft | 1951 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5th overall |
| Selected by the Syracuse Nationals | |
| Playing career | 1951–1952 |
| Position | Forward |
| Number | 15 |
| Career history | |
| 1951–1952 | Milwaukee Hawks |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 14 (1.3 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 20 (1.8 rpg) |
| Assists | 8 (0.7 apg) |
| Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Background
McConathy was born in rural Sailes near Gibsland in Bienville Parish, one of three sons, one still living, of Oliver Leslie McConathy (1904-1982) and the former Marie Cole (1907-1979).[2]
Over the years, he maintained a farm in Sailes.[3]
Career
After graduation from Northwestern State University and his brief professional basketball career, McConathy was employed by the Bienville Parish School Board at Gibsland and Ringgold and then the Bossier Parish School Board. His Bossier High School basketball team won a state championship in 1960. He was the Bossier superintendent from 1972 to 1983.[4] In this capacity, he was a driving force behind the establishment of Bossier Parish Community College, at which his oldest son, Mike McConathy, was the basketball coach from 1983 to 1999. Mike McConathy then became basketball coach at Northwestern State University,[5][6] a position which he still fills.
After he retired as school superintendent, McConathy worked for two decades as an agent for the New York Life Insurance Company. He was a founding member of Citizens National Bank, of which he was a former board chairman for twenty-five years and remained a bank director at the time of his death.[3]
Family
McConathy was married to the former Corene Floyd (born March 1933). There are four McConathy children, Coach Mike McConathy and wife, Connie, of Natchitoches, Bill McConathy and wife, Anne, of Haughton in south Bossier Parish, Pat McConathy and wife, Suanne, of Bossier City, and Melinda McConathy Guest and husband, Greg, of Bossier City, and eleven grandchildren.[3] McConathy was an active member of the First Baptist Church of Bossier City. McConathy died in his sleep at the age of eighty-six. Pastors Brad Jurkovich of First Baptist and Justin Haigler of The Simple Church officiated on April 23 at his funeral at First Baptist Bossier. Former pastor Fred L. Lowery officiated thereafter graveside at Williamson Cemetery in Sailes, at which his parents are also interred.[3]
References
- John McConathy. basketball-reference.com. Retrieved on February 6, 2013.
- "Oliver Leslie McConathy". Findagrave.com. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- "John McConathy". The Shreveport Times. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- Tiffany Flournoy (April 19, 2016). "NSU basketball legend passes away". KTBS-TV. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
- Scott Ferrell. "NSU hoops legend John McConathy dies at 86". The Shreveport Times. Retrieved April 19, 2016.
- LA Tech Hall of Famer: Mike McConathy. Retrieved on February 6, 2013.