Ed Grossenbacher '60
Ed Grossenbacher '60
Title: Athlete
Year: 1960
Team: Basketball
Induction: 1991
To all of the Willamette basketball fans who saw him compete, Bearcat basketball never had a better player than Ed Grossenbacher. The 6-foot guard received the highest national honor won by any Willamette basketball star when he was selected to the second team of the NAIA All-American unit following his senior season in 1960, when the Bearcats won the NAIA District 2 championship and he was named the Districtís Player of the Year. His school record of 38 points in a game, 557 points in a single season, 1,547 points over a career, and a four-year free throw accuracy mark of .779, all stood for more than 10 years. However, Grossenbacher's athletic career did not end here. In 1988, he won the World Senior men's handball championship for his age group (50-55) and the following year placed second. He also played on a Portland Basketball team (East Bank) that won the 1989 and 19990 Gold Medal in the 50- and over division of the World Senior Games.