Temple Basketball Great Hal Lear Dies At Age 81
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- One of the all-time greats in the rich history of Temple University basketball, Hal Lear, has passed away at the age of 81.
"The entire Temple University community mourns the loss of Hal Lear. Hal was an All-American on the court, and, with Guy Rodgers, part of the greatest backcourt in Philadelphia basketball history," said TU Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "More importantly, though, he was truly a great man, and beloved by all. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Maggie and the entire Lear family at this time."
Only four Temple men's basketball players have their number retired. One of them is Lear.
"(He's) one of the greatest players that Philadelphia has ever developed," said Philadelphia basketball legend Sonny Hill.
Hill says Lear teamed with Guy Rodgers to form one of the great backcourts in Big 5 history, a duo that helped lead Temple to the 1956 Final Four.
"Where he scored 48 points in one of the games," Hill said. "He was the MVP of the tournament."
The Overbrook High School product was drafted by the old Philadelphia Warriors. His NBA career was brief, but he played nine years in the old Eastern League.
After basketball, Lear had a 30 year career as an executive administrator at Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York. Hill says he set a great example, especially for African Americans.
"Kind of blazed the trail to let us know how to carry ourselves, how to interact with the establishment," he said. "When you have a sports career that gives you an opportunity like he did in basketball and how to maximize it in terms of how you move forward with life after basketball. Hal Lear, one of the great basketball players, but a better human being."
"Hal Lear was not only one of the greatest players, but one of the greatest people in Temple basketball history," said coach Fran Dunphy. "He personified class in every way, was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He is someone that will be remembered for his great feats on the court and how he handled himself with grace off it. A great man has left us."
Lear is survived by his wife Maggie, nine children, 21 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
