Colorado University Athletics
1954-55 Men's Basketball Final Four Team To Be Honored Saturday
February 24, 2005 | Men's Basketball
           BOULDER - Fifty years ago next month, the University of Colorado men's basketball team made its last appearance in the NCAA Final Four. This Saturday (February 26), twenty-five people associated with that team will reunite for a weekend of festivities around the CU-Kansas State game.
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Head coach H.B. "Bebe" Lee, now 88, headlines the returning contingent of coaches, players and support personnel.Â
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The team posted a 19-6 record, going 15-1 after a 3-4 start to win the Big Seven Conference title and reach the NCAA Final Four, where the Buffs lost to the legendary Bill Russell and the San Francisco Dons, 62-50, in the semifinals. Colorado came back and routed Iowa, 75-54, in the third place game.
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Colorado was 11-1 in the Big Seven that year, and defeated Tulsa and Bradley en route to the Final Four.
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The leading scorers from that team, Burdette "Burdie" Haldorson (21.0 points per game) and Bob Jeangerard (16.0), both of whom went on to play for the United States Olympic team in winning three gold medals between them, are two of 18 varsity players returning for the reunion.
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Haldorson, who also averaged 13.8 rebounds per game, still the CU single-season record, earned All-America honors that year. He won gold medals in both the 1956 and 1960 summer games; Jeangerard, who was also an All-Big Seven selection that year, teamed with him in '56 to win the gold.
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Joining Haldorson and Jeangerard will be team members Byron Bennett, Mel Coffman, Bob Decker, George Hannah, Tom Harrold, Leo Hayward, Bob Helzer, Jim Jochems, Gordon Johnson, Charlie Mock, Dave Mowbray, Bill Peterson, George Redhair, Jerry Spicer, Will Walter and Bob Yardley.
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Others returning include freshman team members Joe Beckner, Jerry Schroeder and Don Walker, trainers Jack Rockwell and Lloyd Williams, and manager John Roberts.
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The group will gather for a reception in Boulder on Friday night, with a pregame party set for Noon Saturday at the Coors Events Center. At halftime of the CU-Kansas State game, which tips off at 2 p.m., the entire team will be introduced. The festivities conclude with a private dinner Saturday evening.
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