Omaha basketball legend and community activist Bob Boozer died Saturday at the age of 75.
He played on the 1958 Final Four at Kansas State, the 1960 gold medal team in the Rome Olympics and the 1971 NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks. However, some of Boozer's most memorable moments occurred after his playing career.
While Boozer served on the Omaha Sports Commission, he pushed for events in downtown Omaha. Speaking from what was then known as Qwest Center four years ago, Boozer was proud. His Kansas State Wildcats were sent there for the NCAA tournament. "Seeing them in Omaha is a special situation. There's no question about that," he said.
Then the Olympic spirit was felt that summer with the swimming trials.
"Once you put up a venue like this, you can attract (events) because you've got seats. You could put rear ends into seats and that is certainly revenue and certainly the NCAA or anyone looks at that," he added.
Boozer graduated from Tech High School. Then after an 11-year career in the NBA, Boozer returned to Omaha. He worked in the telephone business and was later appointed to the Nebraska Board of Parole.
He was a champion on and off the basketball court.