Bill Hougland facts for kids
William "Bill" Hougland (born June 20, 1930 – died March 6, 2017) was an American basketball player and a successful businessman. He is best known for winning two gold medals in the Summer Olympics for basketball. He also helped his college team, the Kansas Jayhawks, win a national championship.
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Who Was Bill Hougland?
Bill Hougland was a talented athlete who played basketball at the highest levels. He became famous for his skills on the court. After his sports career, he had a long and successful career in business.
A Star on the Court
Bill Hougland played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks. In 1952, his team won the NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. This was a huge achievement for him and his teammates.
After college, Hougland played for a famous amateur team called the Phillips 66ers. He played with them from 1952 until 1958. These teams were very strong back then.
Olympic Gold Medals
Bill Hougland was chosen to play for the United States Olympic basketball team twice. He competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland. The American team won the gold medal that year. Bill played in all eight games during the tournament.
Four years later, he again joined the American team for the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. Once more, his team won the gold medal. This made him one of the few athletes to win two Olympic gold medals in basketball.
Life Beyond Basketball
After his amazing basketball career, Bill Hougland started a new path in business. He worked for Koch Industries, a large company. He became a Vice-President there. He retired from his business career in 1991.
Early Life and Legacy
Bill Hougland was born in Caldwell, Kansas. He went to college at the University of Kansas. He passed away on March 6, 2017, in Lawrence, Kansas, at the age of 86. Bill Hougland is remembered as a great athlete and a successful person in business.
See also
In Spanish: Bill Hougland para niños
