 Paine with the Phillips 66ers. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 22, 1919 |
| Died | March 21, 2008 (aged 88) Norman, Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Listed weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Oklahoma (1940–1944, 1946–1947) |
| Position | Guard |
| Number | 20 |
| Career history | |
| 1947–1948 | Oklahoma City Drillers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Alva Leon Paine (July 22, 1919 – March 21, 2008) was an American college basketball standout at the University of Oklahoma, who was named a consensus first-team All-American in 1944.[1] In high school, Paine earned varsity letters in football, basketball and baseball, and he earned a scholarship to play for the Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team.[1] He played for four seasons: 1941, 1943, 1944, and 1947.[2] He had spent two years in the United States Army before finishing his college career.[1]
Paine, a 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) guard, guided the Sooners to two Big Six Conference titles in 1944 and 1947.[2] As a junior he led the conference in scoring and was named both a First Team All-Conference and consensus First Team All-American selection.[2] In his final season of 1946–47, he helped Oklahoma reach the national championship game in the 1947 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The Sooners lost, however, to the Holy Cross Crusaders 58–47. Paine graduated from Oklahoma with bachelor degrees in business and education.[1]
After college, he played for the only season in the Professional Basketball League of America's existence as a member of the Oklahoma City Drillers.[3] He appeared in five games and scored 17 points.[3] In 1953, Paine moved to Enid, Oklahoma with his wife and became the basketball and baseball coach at Phillips University.[1] Two years later, he started working with Robert R. Nigh and ultimately became the president of Robert R. Nigh Associates for 35 years.[1] Paine was very involved in church and community life. Throughout his years he served on the Enid Public Schools Board of Education, was a Boy Scouts of America troop leader, Little League baseball coach, member and president of American Business Club, and volunteered at soup kitchens with his church.[1]
At the time of his death in March 2008, Paine was survived by his two children, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren (his wife had died in 1998).[1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h Spader, Violet (2008). "Paine, Alva "Allie"". Obituary. Phillips University Alumni & Friends Association. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ a b c "2008–09 Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). History. University of Oklahoma. 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-02-22. Retrieved October 2, 2010.
- ^ a b "Professional Basketball League of America 1947–48". apbr.org. The Association for Professional Basketball Research. 2009. Archived from the original on 17 September 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2010.