Nick Lalich (basketball)
Nikola Andrew Lalich (May 8, 1916 – May 11, 2001)[1] was a Serbian American[1] professional basketball player. He played for the Youngstown Bears in the National Basketball League (NBL) during the 1945–46 season.[2] He was a star college basketball player at Ohio University in the 1930s, where he earned a bachelor's degree in industrial arts. Later, Lalich earned a master's degree from Columbia University in New York. His younger brother, Pete Lalich, played four seasons in the NBL and one game in the BAA.
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born | Lorain, Ohio | May 8, 1916
Died | May 11, 2001 85) Baltimore, Maryland | (aged
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Career information | |
High school | East Technical (Cleveland, Ohio) |
College | Ohio (1935–1938) |
Playing career | 1938–1946 |
Position | Guard |
Career history | |
1938–1942 | Cleveland May Co. |
1945–1946 | Youngstown Bears |
Nick Lalich also served with the Office of Strategic Services (OSS; predecessor of CIA) during World War II, helping to rescue and evacuate approximately 550 downed Allied fliers during Operation Halyard, without losing a single life or plane.[1][3] He later worked for the CIA in Greece from 1952 to 1957.[1]
References
- "Nick Lalich". Peach Basket Society. 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- "Nick Lalich NBL stats". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- Garland, Greg (May 15, 2001). "Nick A. Lalich, 85, leader of OSS team that rescued downed air crews in WWII". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved May 14, 2018.