Hal Greer

Harold ‘Hal” Greer grew up in Huntington attending Douglass High School, and after graduation he enrolled at Marshall University, where he was the first African American to play for a public college in West Virginia. While playing basketball Hal scored 1,377 points with a .545 field goal percentage, setting a Marshall record. Hal finished his Marshall career averaging 19.4 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game. After leaving Marshall Hal played with the Philadelphia 76ers where he played his entire NBA career. His jersey at Marshall ( #16) and at the Philadelphia 76er (#15) were retired. In his sophomore year Hal also played baseball as a first baseman.

In 1978, Hal was honored by the City of Huntington when 16^th Street, the main artery into the city was renamed Hal Greer Boulevard.  Hal was inducted into the Athletic Hall f Fame at Marshall University; he was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982. Hal was recognized as one of the first African Americans athletes enshrined in a major sports hall of fame from West Virginia and he was inducted into the Marshall Hall of Fame. He was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA history in 1996.

In 2021 Hal was honored at Marshall University with the dedication of a bronze state in his likeness, created by sculpturer, Fred Hightower, was unveiled adjacent to the Cam Henderson Center.

Hal Greer died on April 14, 2018, after a brief illness.