George Raveling Has Passed

Hawkangler

All-Conference
Mar 16, 2014
1,719
3,886
113
He was 88.

George was not a great bench coach but boy could he recruit. Marble, Armstrong and Horton to name a few. Left the good doctor with a very talented team.

Had a hard time living in Iowa City (small town) so moved to USC and LA. George was well read and a smart guy. RIP big guy
 

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,438
23,082
113
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FanInBlack

All-Conference
Nov 9, 2001
2,147
4,585
113
I lived to watch his Iowa basketball TV show. His basketball instructions and book recommendations. He really influenced me. I wish I could have told him that. I was young enough to not understand racial tension or culture or anything else that might have affected his time at Iowa. I loved him.
 

eobhawk

Redshirt
Dec 31, 2022
28
36
13
Truly a unique man. One of a kind. Imagine having the MLK "I have a dream" speech. A while back I visited the National Civil Rights museum in Memphis. Had an Iowa shirt on and an older gentleman engaged me in discussion. He knew about George Raveling and the speech. It was pretty cool.
Around 10 years ago I was flying out of LAX. The gentleman running the ticket counter looked at my Iowa license and general age and asked if I was an Iowa basketball fan. Of course I said I was a fan of everything Iowa sports. He was testing to see if my knowledge reached back to the Raveling years. He explained that Raveling was a personal friend of his and he considered Raveling his mentor. Turns out he used to help write speeches for Raveling. I had completely forgotten about that interaction until I heard this news yesterday.

My memory of Raveling is certainly hazy. I was in K-2nd grade when he coached at Iowa. I do remember a coaches show that would air (was it during pregame?). He would talk basketball and books if I remember correctly.
 

Franisdaman

Heisman
Nov 3, 2012
15,438
23,082
113
Truly a unique man. One of a kind. Imagine having the MLK "I have a dream" speech. A while back I visited the National Civil Rights museum in Memphis. Had an Iowa shirt on and an older gentleman engaged me in discussion. He knew about George Raveling and the speech. It was pretty cool.

Iowa had 2 Black Head Basketball Coaches for 3 seasons.

1983-1995.........C Vivian Stringer (hired by Christine Grant)
1983-1986.........George Raveling (hired by Bump Elliott)
 
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Ozzie89

All-Conference
Dec 14, 2006
102,781
4,087
113
He was one of my first memories of the Hawks. George Raveling with his track suits and Hayden Fry with the white pants
 
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