Kansas Basketball Great Howard Engleman Dies
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Former University of Kansas men’s basketball great Howard “Rope” Engleman died Wednesday in his hometown of Salina.
A letterwinner at Kansas from 1939-41, Engleman earned consensus first-team All-America honors in 1941. He was named to the 1940 Final Four all-tournament team after leading the Jayhawks to the championship game in Kansas’ first appearance in the tournament.
The six-foot Engleman also helped lead the Jayhawks to Big Six Conference championships in 1940 and 1941.
Following graduation, Engleman fought in the Navy in World War II. After returning from the war, he replaced Phog Allen as Kansas coach for half of the 1946-47 season after Allen was ordered to bed rest. The Jayhawks finished with a 16-11 record in 1946-47, 8-6 under Engleman.
Born in Arkansas City, Kan., Engleman’s No. 5 jersey was retired in a ceremony in Allen Fieldhouse on March 1, 2003. His blond, curly locks of hair earned him the nickname “Rope.”
Known for his sense of humor, Engleman served as a lawyer in Salina after earning his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law.
Updated 01-13-2011
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