Albersheim's 2015 June Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/7/2015
Gilbert Gib Ford was an American basketball player who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics. Mr.Ford played collegiality at the University of Texas. He was part of the American basketball team, which won the gold medal in 1956. A native of Texas, he played for Amarillo High School and in 1950 was a Texas High School All State player and participant in the Texas High School All Star Game. He is enshrined in the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame. Following High School, Mr. Ford played basketball for the University of Texas from 1950-1954 and was the Co-Captain of the team his senior year, when the team was Co-Champions of the Southwest Conference. He was named to various All SWC teams and took part in the 1954 Shrine East/West College All Star Game in Kansas City. In 1986, he was inducted into the University of Texas Longhorn Hall of Honor. After graduation from Texas in 1954, he was a started in the famous Phillips 66 Oilers, which won the National AAU Championship in 1955, and the National Industrial League Championship in 1955 and 1958. While serving in the Air Force, he played on the 1956 All Air Force Team and the All Armed Forces Team, which qualified for the 1956 Olympic Trials. Professionally Mr. Ford has equaled his success on the court off the court in his business career. Mr. Ford was the former Chairman of the Board and CEO of Converse, Inc., having been appointed to that position in August, 1994. He previously held the position of President since 1986, after serving in a variety of executive capacities since joining Converse as a member of the sales staff in 1961. Mr. Ford officially retired December 1, 1996 after 35 years of service with the company. The 1956 US Olympic Basketball Team took home the gold during these summer games played in Melbourne, Australia. In addition to Gib Ford, this team featured such stand out players that included – Bill Russell, K.C. Jones, and Bill Hougland.
Although Olympic participation medals occasionally come onto the market, we have never seen one offered with documentation from the athlete themselves. There have been less than a handful of basketball gold medals to ever enter the marketplace. This is the first participation medal from a member of the US Olympic basketball team to ever be offered for public auction. Measuring at 2.5" in diameter, this bronze showpiece exhibits light wear throughout Extremely nice piece representing a significant time in United States sports history.
COA Gilbert Ford.