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GIB FORD - INDUCTEE #27

hall of fame fast fact:

Did you know that Gib Ford's first name actually is "Gilbert"? According to Ford, long-time Amarillo Globe-News columnist and sportswriter Putt Powell didn't care for "Gilbert" and the nickname "Gil" already belonged to a baseball player for the Amarillo Gold Sox, so Powell tabbed Ford with the nickname "Handsome Gib" during his high school days at Amarillo High School. The "Gib" part stuck permanently.

Gib Ford

Gib Ford, the 6-foot-4 guard at AHS, was a two-year starter and regarded as one of the best hoops players in Texas.

Ford went to the University of Texas, where he was a two-time All-Southwest Conference player and co-captain.

Ford was the first Amarillo athlete to play in the Olympics; he earned a prestigious spot on the 1956 Olympic Team, “The Original Dream Team.” Ford was captain and played all eight games. The American team breezed to the gold medal in Melbourne, Australia, winning all eight games by an average margin of 53.5 points. According to USA Basketball, the 1956 team still holds at least two records: most field goals attempted (723 in eight games) and highest free throw percentage in a game (23-of-24 against the Soviet Union).

Ford joined Converse in 1961 as a sales representative and eventually became chairman of the board and CEO in 1994. Along the way, he inked endorsement deals with NBA stars Larry Bird and Magic Johnson.

Gib Ford retired in Florida.