Gola a star on and off the court

IT MIGHT BE difficult for new generations of kids growing up in Philadelphia to imagine what Tom Gola meant to the city.

"To any kid who grew up in Incarnation Parish or in Olney in general, there was no one who was larger than life yet more down to earth than Tom Gola," said Daily News managing editor Pat McLoone.

"Kids couldn't get enough Tom Gola stories. We all looked up to him and were proud to be from the same neighborhood. He was a Philadelphia success story and a true hero to many."

The late John Wooden, legendary UCLA basketball coach, called Gola the "greatest all-around basketball player" he had ever seen, after just watching him as a college freshman.

The late, great Wilt Chamberlain, who was an Overbrook High School student when Gola was dazzling fans of La Salle College basketball, once said, "When I was growing up, you whispered the name Tom Gola. He was like a saint."

Gola himself would never have placed himself in such divine company. Despite his amazing career on the courts of La Salle High School and College and the old Philadelphia Warriors, he was always modest and matter-of-fact about his accomplishments.

The 6-6 Gola, who could do anything on a basketball court and never hesitated to subordinate himself for the sake of the team, went on to careers in business and politics that he handled with his customary drive for success.

He died yesterday after a long battle with various ailments stemming from a fall in which he suffered head injuries outside a Blue Bell restaurant in July 2003. He was 81.

He eventually was unable to walk and wound up in a wheelchair in St. Joseph's Manor, connected to Holy Redeemer Hospital in Meadowbrook.

"He died peacefully," said his wife, the former Caroline Ann Morris. "He was a wonderful man. We had a great life."

"On behalf of the entire Philadelphia 76ers organization, we are deeply saddened to learn of the unfortunate passing of La Salle basketball legend Tom Gola," Sixers CEO Scott O'Neil said in a statement. "Tom will always be fondly remembered for his dedication to this city and as an icon for his accomplishments both on and off the court."

Brother Michael J. McGinniss, La Salle president, said, "Tom was a Philadelphia icon whose name is synonymous with basketball. Tom was a great man who, in true Lasallian spirit, did great things for the university and for others. La Salle University was very lucky to have him as part of our family."

Dr. Tom Brennan, La Salle director of athletics, said Gola's contributions as a player and later as a coach, "provided La Salle with a true national profile. Tom touched the lives of so many and will be remembered with great fondness."

Dr. John Giannini, head men's basketball coach at La Salle, said, "Every person connected with La Salle basketball for over a 60-year span has held his friendship and leadership as a blessing they could always count on."

Gola was elected to the National Basketball Hall of Fame and La Salle's Tom Gola Arena is named after him.

He was also a veteran of the Army Signal Corps.

Thomas J. Gola started playing basketball at Incarnation of Our Lord Parochial School, around the corner from where he grew up in an Olney rowhouse.

He racked up record-breaking numbers at La Salle High School and La Salle College, now a university, and went on to play 11 years in the pros, then coached two seasons at his alma mater.

A Republican in a Democratic city, Gola was elected to the state House of Representatives from the 170th District in the Northeast in 1968. He didn't finish out his term, opting to run for city controller.

He and the late Sen. Arlen Specter, running for district attorney, won by substantial margins.

Elliott Curson, who ran the campaign with the slogan, "They're tougher, they're younger, and nobody owns them," said Gola was a "hell of a guy."

"He was very low-key, very funny," Curson said. "He was not the kind of guy who was interested in notoriety, though he always had it. Look at his press clippings and you see he did a great job as a controller."

Gola was also a successful businessman, running a Bucks County insurance company and dabbling in real estate and other businesses.

He was chairman of Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign, and in 1981, was appointed by Reagan administrator of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

But it was as a basketball player that Gola cemented his legendary status in his native city.

At La Salle, he was a three-time All-American. He holds the NCAA record with 2,201 career rebounds. He led the Explorers to the 1954 NCAA national championship and runner-up finish in 1955. He was national player of the year in 1954 and UPI player of the year in 1955. He averaged 20.9 points a game and 18.7 rebounds.

He coached the Explorers from 1968 to 1970, with a 37-13 record.

Gola was drafted by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1955. He played until 1962, when he joined the New York Knicks. He played until 1966.

He was a five-time NBA All-Star, racked up 7,871 points and 5,417 rebounds.

Besides his wife, he is survived by a son, Thomas Christopher; four sisters, Wanda Lucas, Joan Wozniak, Catherine Eile and Claire Kerrigan; two brothers, John and Paul, and two grandchildren.

Services: Funeral Mass 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Albert the Great Church, Huntingdon Valley. Burial will be private.