UW legend Bob Houbregs dies

May 29, 2014, 12:00 AM

Washington basketball lost one of its greats Wednesday when legendary former-Husky Bob Houbregs passed away at the age of 82. Houbregs played forward and center at the UW from 1951 to 1953, leading the Huskies to their only Final Four appearance in his senior season. He was the first player in program history to have his jersey number (25) retired. “Bob was an icon in our community,” UW Athletic Director Scott Woodward said in a statement. “His efforts on the court helped put Washington basketball on the map, but what made him remarkable was his character beyond the game of basketball. He had a way of connecting with people in a very genuine manner, and his presence will be truly missed here.” In his three years on Montlake, Houbregs set a number of school records, seven of which are still standing. He is second on the UW’s all-time points per game list and third in rebounds per game. During his senior year, Houbregs was the NCAA Player of the Year and a Consensus First Team All-American, the only one in program history. In the team’s run to the Final Four, Houbregs averaged 34.8 points per game. Houbregs was selected second overall in the 1953 NBA Draft by the then-Milwaukee Hawks. He played five seasons in the NBA, and he was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1987. Reach Sports Editor Daniel Rubens at sports@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @drubens12

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