Jerry Shipp

Jerry Shipp’s first view of the world was from a ditch beside a road in a Louisiana project where he had been born to a tubercular-mother and alcoholic-father.

Shipp has certainly seen a lot of the remaining world since that September day in 1936. He has worn the basketball colors of the United States in three international tournaments—the 1963 Pan American Games, the 1963 World Games and the 1964 Olympic Games.

Shipp didn’t just play in those competitions—one of only seven Americans to have achieved that trifecta—he was the leading U.S. scorer in all three games. He averaged 14.3 in 24 games, leading the U.S. to two gold medals and a silver (World).

Of about 70 Americans who have played in at least two of the big international games, only Oscar Robertson (16.8), Michael Jordan (16.4), Don Barksdale (15.8) and Charles Barkley (15.4) have higher averages. Rounding out the top 12 are Shaquille O’Neal (13.6), Danny Manning (12.9), Jo Jo White (12.8), Don Kojis (12.7), Jerry West (12.7), Chris Mullen (12.3) and Wayman Tisdale (12.1).

At age 24 months Jerry was sent to the Orphans Home in Tipton, Oklahoma, where he spent his next 14 years. "I never had a single visitor the years I was there," he said.

Out of the blue, so to speak, the Shipps, Ed and Ozella, of Blue, Oklahoma, adopted Jerry, who became a 3-year starter and star at the Bryan Country School.

His basketball talent was in demand. Shipp turned down several big universities to move nine miles west of Blue to Southeastern State to play for the renowned Bloomer Sullivan.

"What Bloomer put into me was the trait to never be intimidated by anyone," Shipp said. What Shipp gave Bloomer were four super seasons, including a national runner-up finish in the 1957 NAIA Tournament.

Shipp followed his Southeastern State career with five playing seasons and 10 additional working years in Bartlesville with Phillips 66. He became the 66ers’ fourth leading scorer of all-time (14.7 average for 232 games) and a 3-time AAU All-American.

Shipp was the veteran of all three international squads on which he starred, having already played more than 40 games on various U.S. tours. As such, he was looked up to by teammates who included Willis Reed, Walt Hazzard, Bill Bradley, Lucious Jackson, Mel Counts and Jim Barnes.

Shipp owned one of the quickest jump-shots in basketball with no limit to his range. His shot ended in a distinct fallaway, making it even harder to guard.

"I always had a crazy-looking shot," said Shipp, "but the Good Lord blessed me with the ability to shoot it straight."