William Carlisle Towery (June 20, 1920 – November 25, 2012), nicknamed "Blackie" or "Big Boy", at Hilltopper Haven. Retrieved on January 13, 2008. was an American professional basketball player.
A power forward-center, Towery played for the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers from 1938 to 1941. He was a two-time All-America selection and the first Hilltopper to score 1,000 points. He also led the Hilltoppers to three Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association titles.Danny Schoenbaechler. "Men's Basketball: 'It's an honor and I'm speechless'". College Heights Herald. February 25, 2003. Retrieved on November 25, 2012.
After graduating, Towery began his professional career with the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons of the National Basketball League. He played three seasons with the Pistons before entering military service in World War II, where he earned a Bronze Star as an infantryman. He then returned to the Pistons in 1946, and remained with the team as they joined the Basketball Association of America (the modern NBA) in 1948. Towery spent half a season with the Pistons in the BAA, and later served stints for the Indianapolis Jets and Baltimore Bullets. When he retired from basketball in 1950, he had scored 2,317 combined NBL/NBA points.The Official NBA Encyclopedia. New York: Doubleday, 2000. 784.
In 2003, Western Kentucky University retired his #42 college jersey. He became the sixth Hilltopper to receive such honors. Towery died on November 25, 2012, at the age of 92.Area deaths. The Crittenden Press. November 25, 2012. Retrieved on November 25, 2012.
BAA/NBA career statistics Legend GP Games played FG% Field-goal percentage FT% Free-throw percentage APG Assists per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
Regular season Year Team GP FG% FT% APG PPG 1948–49 Fort Wayne 22 .259 .712 1.6 7.5 1948–49 Indianapolis 38 .265 .753 3.6 11.5 Baltimore 68 .327 .757 2.1 8.8Career 128 .293 .748 2.4 9.4
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