Murray State University Athletics
Photo by: Murray State Sports Information
Racer Great Bennie Purcell Celebrates 83rd Birthday
12/13/2012 10:32:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Gallery I Purcell Hall of Fame Page
Fans, friends and Murray State supporters gathered at the Murray Room of the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky. (Dec. 10) to celebrate the career and 83rd birthday of Bennie Purcell who started as an outstanding basketball player at MSU in the late 1940's and eventually had a decorated career as assistant basketball coach and head tennis coach.
An announcement was also made that Proud to be A Racer Publications is donating $25,000 to help build the MSU Hall of Champions that will be located in the new basketball practice facility. The Hall of Champions will feature individuals from all sports that have been inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame. The men's basketball area of the Hall of Champions will be named in Purcell's honor.
A native of Mount Vernon, Ill., Purcell came to Murray State in the fall of 1948, beginning a long association with the Racers.
Among Purcell's accomplishments playing basketball for the Racers was being on the first year that Murray State to win an Ohio Valley Conference championship in 1951 and the OVC 40th anniversary basketball team. In 1952, he was named the most valuable player in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Basketball Tournament and an All-America by Converse, United Press International and Associated Press. His #21 jersey was retired and hangs in the CFSB Center. He is also a member of the MSU Hall of Fame and the OVC Hall of Fame.
Purcell also played basketball professionally with the Harlem Globetrotters as a member of the Washington Generals.
In 1966, he began coaching the tennis team, and the promise his teams held was demonstrated immediately as his squad won the OVC title in his first year, the first of eleven such championships. He also spent many seasons as an assistant men's basketball coach at MSU with head coach Cal Luther.
Purcell's tennis teams swept the decade of the 80's in OVC men's tennis, winning the crown every year during the period. Purcell was an eight-time OVC Coach of the Year.
Fans, friends and Murray State supporters gathered at the Murray Room of the CFSB Center in Murray, Ky. (Dec. 10) to celebrate the career and 83rd birthday of Bennie Purcell who started as an outstanding basketball player at MSU in the late 1940's and eventually had a decorated career as assistant basketball coach and head tennis coach.
An announcement was also made that Proud to be A Racer Publications is donating $25,000 to help build the MSU Hall of Champions that will be located in the new basketball practice facility. The Hall of Champions will feature individuals from all sports that have been inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame. The men's basketball area of the Hall of Champions will be named in Purcell's honor.
A native of Mount Vernon, Ill., Purcell came to Murray State in the fall of 1948, beginning a long association with the Racers.
Among Purcell's accomplishments playing basketball for the Racers was being on the first year that Murray State to win an Ohio Valley Conference championship in 1951 and the OVC 40th anniversary basketball team. In 1952, he was named the most valuable player in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Basketball Tournament and an All-America by Converse, United Press International and Associated Press. His #21 jersey was retired and hangs in the CFSB Center. He is also a member of the MSU Hall of Fame and the OVC Hall of Fame.
Purcell also played basketball professionally with the Harlem Globetrotters as a member of the Washington Generals.
In 1966, he began coaching the tennis team, and the promise his teams held was demonstrated immediately as his squad won the OVC title in his first year, the first of eleven such championships. He also spent many seasons as an assistant men's basketball coach at MSU with head coach Cal Luther.
Purcell's tennis teams swept the decade of the 80's in OVC men's tennis, winning the crown every year during the period. Purcell was an eight-time OVC Coach of the Year.
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