Tom Gola
[2][5] As a senior, Gola helped La Salle finish as the runner-up in the 1955 NCAA tournament to the University of San Francisco.Gola was named the AP and UPI College Basketball Player of the Year, and was selected to the All-American team.[7] After a phenomenal college career, Gola turned pro with the Philadelphia Warriors as a territorial draft pick.[2] In 1959, Johnston temporarily retired due to a knee injury and the Warriors added seven-foot superstar Wilt Chamberlain.[5] In 1968, Gola returned to his alma mater as head coach, leading the Explorers to a 37–13 record during his two-year stay.Ultimately, Gola would not finish-out his first term in the House, opting instead to seek the office of Philadelphia City Controller in 1969.His defeat was part of a broader setback for Republicans in the city that year, as Arlen Specter lost his bid for a third term as District Attorney of Philadelphia.He came in last in the three-man Republican primary, behind Congressman Charlie Dougherty and the winner, John Egan, who went on to lose the fall general election to Wilson Goode.'"[7] In 2002, he was honored in Madison Square Garden as one of the NCAA tournament’s five greatest players, along with Bill Bradley, Oscar Robertson, Chris Mullin, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.[5] The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame states of Gola that he is among a select few to have won NIT, NCAA, and NBA championships.[9] Tom Gola Arena, home to the La Salle University Explorers men's and women's basketball teams, was named after him.The Plaza was opened on September 26, 2024, to continue the legacy of Gola after his name was no longer connected to the home of the Explorers.
PhiladelphiaLa Salle CollegeLa SalleNBA draftterritorial pickPhiladelphia WarriorsSmall forwardshooting guard1955–1956Philadelphia / San Francisco WarriorsNew York KnicksNBA championNBA All-StarAll-NBA Second TeamNCAA championNCAA Final Four MOPHelms Foundation Player of the YearUPI Player of the YearAll-AmericanPointsReboundsAssistsBasketball ReferenceCollegiate Basketball Hall of FamebasketballNaismith Memorial Basketball Hall of FamePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaPolishLa Salle College High SchoolPhiladelphia Catholic LeagueJohn ChaneyLa Salle UniversityPaul ArizinExplorersmen's basketballKentuckyAdolph RuppNorth Carolina StateEverett CaseU.S. Military Academy1952 NIT championship1955 NCAA tournamentUniversity of San FranciscoBill RussellNCAA all-time rebounding leaderforwardreboundterritorial draftNeil JohnstonNBA championshipWilt ChamberlainNBA playoffsBoston Celticstriple-doubleDraymond GreenPennsylvania State HouseRepublicanNortheast Philadelphia170th DistrictState ConstitutionDemocratArlen SpecterDistrict Attorney of PhiladelphiaMayor of PhiladelphiaCongressmanCharlie DoughertyWilson GoodeMeadowbrook, PennsylvaniaWashington Crossing National CemeteryUpper Makefield Township, PennsylvaniaJohn WoodenBob KnightBill BradleyOscar RobertsonChris MullinKareem Abdul-JabbarTom Gola Arenawomen'sJohn Glaser ArenaField goal3-point field goalFree throwStealsBlocks1955–561957–581958–591959–601960–611961–621962–63San FranciscoNew York1963–641964–651965–66La Salle ExplorersMiddle Atlantic Conferences1968–691969–70List of NBA career triple-double leadersList of NBA career playoff triple-double leadersList of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 2,000 points and 1,000 reboundsList of NCAA Division I men's basketball career rebounding leadersThe Philadelphia InquirerThe New York TimesWayback MachinePennsylvania House of RepresentativesAlvin KatzPhiladelphia City ControllerLa Salle Explorers men's basketball head coachesTom ConleyKen LoefflerJim PollardDudey MoorePaul WestheadSpeedy MorrisBilly HahnJohn GianniniAshley HowardFran DunphyLa Salle Explorers men's basketball 1953–54 NCAA championsBob AmesNCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Most Outstanding PlayerHuffmannDallmar