Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Basketball Mourning The Loss Of All-American Gale McArthur
January 02, 2020 | Cowboy Basketball
STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State basketball family is mourning the loss of legendary guard Gale McArthur, an All-American for Mr. Henry Iba and a two-time Final Four participant.
McArthur, 90, came to Stillwater from Mangum, Oklahoma, and was a key member of Oklahoma A&M's?Final Four teams in 1949 and 1951.
During McArthur's finest season, 1950-51, he averaged 11.6 points per contest as A&M?won 29 games and made the national consolation finals.
That year, he was named a first-team All-American by the Helms Foundation, Sporting News and Look Magazine, and a second-team selection by the Associated Press, United Press International, Converse Yearbook and Colliers/NABC. He was a consensus second-team All-American according to the NCAA.
McArthur was drafted with the 40th pick of the 1951 NBA Draft by the Minneapolis Lakers, which had won the 1950 world championship. He opted instead to serve his country in the Air Force.
After serving in the Air Force, McArthur returned to Stillwater and helped coach the Aggie freshman team for Mr. Iba. That year he coached a young forward named Eddie Sutton.
McArthur then attended dental school and spent the next 45 years as an orthodontist in Ponca City and Stillwater, and his love of Oklahoma State continued for the rest of his life.
Memorial arrangements are currently being made, and will be announced when they become available.
McArthur, 90, came to Stillwater from Mangum, Oklahoma, and was a key member of Oklahoma A&M's?Final Four teams in 1949 and 1951.
During McArthur's finest season, 1950-51, he averaged 11.6 points per contest as A&M?won 29 games and made the national consolation finals.
That year, he was named a first-team All-American by the Helms Foundation, Sporting News and Look Magazine, and a second-team selection by the Associated Press, United Press International, Converse Yearbook and Colliers/NABC. He was a consensus second-team All-American according to the NCAA.
McArthur was drafted with the 40th pick of the 1951 NBA Draft by the Minneapolis Lakers, which had won the 1950 world championship. He opted instead to serve his country in the Air Force.
After serving in the Air Force, McArthur returned to Stillwater and helped coach the Aggie freshman team for Mr. Iba. That year he coached a young forward named Eddie Sutton.
McArthur then attended dental school and spent the next 45 years as an orthodontist in Ponca City and Stillwater, and his love of Oklahoma State continued for the rest of his life.
Memorial arrangements are currently being made, and will be announced when they become available.
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