Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Basketball Mourning The Loss Of NCAA Champion Halbert
July 29, 2019 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State basketball program is mourning the loss of two-time NCAA champion center Joe Halbert, who died last week in Springfield, Oregon.
Halbert, who was 93, helped Mr. Henry Iba's Aggies become the first back-to-back NCAA champions in college basketball history with their titles in 1945 and 1946. He and the legendary Bob Kurland teamed up to roam the paint during those championship runs.
In all, he played in 99 career games for the Aggies and scored 151 points.
Following his playing career, on May 30, 1948, Halbert married Mary Lee Awtrey and they both graduated from Oklahoma State the following day.
Joe and Mary Lee ventured West following graduation and ended up at Mohawk High School in Marcola, Oregon, where Joe taught science and coached basketball for 18 years while Mary Lee taught home economics.
His retirement years were filled with his cattle ranch, three grown children, five grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and even one great-great grandchild. Joe and Mary Lee would remain married for 63 years until her passing in 2011.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church at 1162 B Street, Springfield Oregon on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 11 a.m.
Click here to read Halbert's full obituary.
Halbert, who was 93, helped Mr. Henry Iba's Aggies become the first back-to-back NCAA champions in college basketball history with their titles in 1945 and 1946. He and the legendary Bob Kurland teamed up to roam the paint during those championship runs.
In all, he played in 99 career games for the Aggies and scored 151 points.
Following his playing career, on May 30, 1948, Halbert married Mary Lee Awtrey and they both graduated from Oklahoma State the following day.
Joe and Mary Lee ventured West following graduation and ended up at Mohawk High School in Marcola, Oregon, where Joe taught science and coached basketball for 18 years while Mary Lee taught home economics.
His retirement years were filled with his cattle ranch, three grown children, five grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren and even one great-great grandchild. Joe and Mary Lee would remain married for 63 years until her passing in 2011.
A memorial service will be held at Trinity Baptist Church at 1162 B Street, Springfield Oregon on Saturday, Aug. 17 at 11 a.m.
Click here to read Halbert's full obituary.
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
