Wallace Jones

For the musician, see Wallace Jones (musician).

Wallace Jones

Personal information
Born	(1926-07-14)July 14, 1926 Harlan, Kentucky
Died	July 27, 2014(2014-07-27) (aged 88) Lexington, Kentucky
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight	225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High school	Harlan (Harlan, Kentucky)
College	Kentucky (1945–1949)
BAA draft	1949: 1st round, 8th overall pick
Selected by the Washington Capitols
Playing career	1949–1952
Position	Power forward
Number	17
Career history
1949–1952	Indianapolis Olympians
Career highlights and awards
2× NCAA champion (1948, 1949) Consensus second-team All-American (1949)
Career NBA statistics
Points	1,428 (10.2 ppg)
Rebounds	408 (5.1 rpg)
Assists	429 (3.1 apg)
Stats at NBA.com
Stats at Basketball Reference
Medals Men's basketball Representing the United States Olympic Games 1948 London Team competition

Wallace Clayton "Wah Wah" Jones (July 14, 1926 – July 27, 2014) was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1949 to 1952 with the Indianapolis Olympians.

Biography

Jones was born in Harlan, Kentucky. He attended Harlan High School, where he set a national scoring record in basketball and led his school to a state championship. He was all-state in football, basketball and baseball.

Jones attended the University of Kentucky, where he continued to play varsity football, basketball and baseball. He was twice All-SEC in football. In basketball, he was a three time All-American and four time All-SEC. He led the Wildcats to two NCAA Championships, in 1948 and 1949. Jones was a member of the 1948 Olympic Gold medal winning team with Adolph Rupp's "Fabulous Five" and the Phillips 66ers. During his four years at Kentucky, the basketball team had a combined record of 130-10 and won the SEC championship every year.

He holds the unique distinction of being an All-American under both legends, Adolph Rupp (basketball) and Bear Bryant (football) when both coached at Kentucky. He is the only player to have his number retired in both football and basketball at Kentucky. At the University of Kentucky, Jones was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Jones was selected in the seventh round of the 1949 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears, but did not play in the league.

A jersey honoring Jones hangs in Rupp Arena.

In 1953, Jones was elected the sheriff of Fayette County, Kentucky. In 1956, Jones was the Republican nominee for Kentucky's 6th congressional district seat in the United States House of Representatives. Though Dwight Eisenhower, heading the Republican ticket, carried the state, Jones lost the election to Democrat John C. Watts.

In 1978, Jones started a charter bus company called "Blue Grass Tours" that was contracted to the UK Athletics department and more recently purchased a custom sleeper coach for the use of the athletic teams.

"Wah Wah"

Known as Wallace in his early years, Jones acquired the nickname, "Wah Wah", when his younger sister Jackie, just learning to talk, could not pronounce his name.

Death

Jones died in Lexington on July 27, 2014 at the age of 88.

External links

• Stats