Bill Lienhard, a member of the Kansas Jayhawks’ 1952 hoops title team, dies at age 92
Former University of Kansas men’s basketball forward Bill Lienhard, who started on KU’s 1952 NCAA national championship team, died Tuesday at the age of 92, KU announced.
Lienhard died at his Lawrence home surrounded by his daughters — Julie Kiviisto, Betsy Scott and Amy Lienhard Niedermohr.
“I got to know Bill Lienhard and many of his teammates from the 1952 team pretty well once we arrived in Lawrence,” KU coach Bill Self said in a KU news release. “That entire group has been so supportive of everything we are trying to do. They are so proud of their school and Bill was no exception.
“He treated us like family and was classy in everything he did. He will be missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, whom I am sure are so proud of all he did as a husband, father, grandparent and great friend to so many.”
Lienhard was a member of a KU recruiting class that included Clyde Lovellette, Bill Hougland, Bob Kenney and John Keller. Those players were on the 1952 national-title team and also won regular-season Big Seven Conference titles in 1950 and 1952.
Lienhard, who played for legendary Jayhawks coach Phog Allen, competed in 74 games in his three varsity seasons at KU from 1950-52. He averaged 6.0 points per game. As a senior, he was selected as a co-captain. He scored 12 points in the Jayhawks’ NCAA title victory over St. John’s.
Lienhard was one of seven Jayhawks chosen to represent the United States at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. Lienhard averaged 4.0 points per contest for the gold medal-winning U.S. team.
Following the Olympics, Lienhard joined the Air Force and continued to play basketball for two years, then became a banker in Kansas. He was born in Slaton, Texas, but grew up in Newton, Kansas. He led Newton High School to a 25-1 record during his senior campaign.
A member of the Kansas Athletics Hall of Fame, Lienhard was inducted into the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2013. He received the Hall’s “Pride of Kansas” Award in 2012. His 1952 Olympic gold medal is on display in the Booth Family Hall of Athletics, which is connected to Allen Fieldhouse.
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Bill Lienhard, a member of the Kansas Jayhawks’ 1952 hoops title team, dies at age 92."
