Rice Remembers Bill Tom Closs
6/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 8, 2011
Bill Tom Closs, who led the Southwest Conference in scoring and was named an All-American as a senior at Rice University, passed away on Monday. He was 89.
Closs matriculated at Rice at the age of 16. He averaged 17.0 points (426 total) as a senior in 1943. His senior season was highlighted by being named a First-Team All-America selection by the Helms Foundation and was selected Second-Team All-America by Converse Yearbook. He was also named to the All-Southwest Conference team in 1943.
Closs earned his bachelor's degree in health and physical education in 1943 and went on to serve in the U.S. Marines in the Fleet Marine Force Pacific Headquarters in Oahu, Hi., during World War II.
Returning from military service, Closs went on to play professional basketball six years, beginning in Indianapolis as part of the original National Basketball League and later for the NBA's Philadelphia Warriors. He played his final professional season for the Pistons in 1951-52, who at the time were based in Fort Wayne, Ind.
After retiring from the NBA, Closs went on to have a very successful 35-year career in the sporting goods industry.
Closs was the founder, chairman of the board and substantial owner of U.S. Sports, which offers instruction in all sports at 550 camps nationally and internationally. He was also founder of Clossco/Adidas, an importer and distributor of Adidas athletic products and active wear, leading the company to more than $100 million in sales.
He served as an active member and president of the Sporting Goods Agents Association and was voted into its hall of fame in 1983.
He began his career working for Converse as a sales and promotional agent for seven Western states.
Closs was inducted to the Rice Athletic Hall of Fame in 1971. He was honored with his jersey being hung in Tudor Fieldhouse in 2003. Closs and his wife, Gini, endowed the Bill Tom and Virginia R. Closs Athletic Scholarship at Rice which benefits a student-athlete playing either tennis or basketball.
A memorial service is being planned for Mr. Closs at Stanford University in July. Notes of sympathy may be sent to his wife: Mrs. Bill Tom Closs (Virginia R.), 555 Byron Street, Unit 409, Palo Alto, CA 94301-2038.