Marques Haynes

A small, weatherbeaten shack. The tiny, sleepy Oklahoma town of Sand Springs. Not many beginnings are more humble than these-or more ironic. It was here on a quiet fall day in 1926 that Marques Haynes, one of the most celebrated sports entertainers of all time, made his debut into the world.

Marques came by his love of basketball honestly and early. The youngest of four, he watched his brothers Wendell and Joe and sister Cecile lead the way on the court at Booker T. Washington High School. When his turn came, he led the school to the 1942 State Championship.

Haynes then followed his brothers to Langston University where he continued to excel in basketball while earning a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Education. The 6'- 160 pound guard led Langston to two conference titles, a 112-3 winning record and a victory over the touring Harlem Globetrotters. The Trotters were contagious and in 1946, Marques signed with the Kansas City Stars, a Globetrotter affiliate. He soon found his niche and from 1947-1953 shared the starring role and front line status with Reece "Goose" Tatum, whose comic capers were the perfect complement to Haynes' dribbling wizardry.

In 1953, he formed his own touring team, the Fabulous Magicians, but his on again, off again romance with the Globetrotters continued when he returned in 1972. He remained with the team until 1979 when he joined the Buckateers, an organization led by ex-Trotter Meadowlark Lemon. He donned a Globetrotter uniform once again in 1981, only to leave for the last time in 1983 when he formed his own harlem Magicians.

Best known as the "World's Greatesst Dribbler" (he could bounce a ball three times a second, maintain the dribble one inch off the floor and from any position), Marques also was a very accomplished and competitive player. In his prime, he turned down NBA offers to play for the Philadelphia Warriors and the Minneapolis Lakers. His career as a barnstorming basketball entertainer has spanned more than 45 awe-inspiring years and continues today. The performance packed into those amazing years includes over four million miles of travel to perform in over 13,000 games in every state in America, 96 foreign countries and on all six of the world's continents.

His success has allowed him to move in the circles of presidents and kings and the rich and famous, but he has never forgotten his roots and heritage. The child born in the shack outside of Tulsa lit up the world with his talent and enthusiasm, his success earned through unwavering diligence and determination. He is a beacon in the night for those who seek to rise above the commonplace—an inspiration and assurance that even the most humble of starting points can lead to a path of gold.