Basketball Legend, Cousy ’50, to be Honored in Bronze

Basketball legend Bob Cousy "50, will be honored with a life-size bronze statue to be located in front of the Hart Center at the College of the Holy Cross. The announcement was made last Friday (Sept. 7, 2007) during a luncheon and press conference at the Hogan Campus Center.  In attendance were Cousy and his wife Missy, members of the committee who made the statue possible (including alumni who played basketball with Cousy), Celtics staff, and media.

Ron Perry ’54, former athletic director at the College of the Holy Cross, served as the emcee of the event, at which Rev. Earle L. Markey, S.J., ’53, associate director of admissions and former teammate of Cousy’s, and Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., ’49, president emeritus, took the podium to relive fond memories of the ‘Cooz’ and emphasize the importance of the statue.

The man who led the Boston Celtics to six NBA titles, was at first hesitant to have a statue erected of himself, but he was visibly moved and humbled by the honor.  In an emotional speech, he challenged the College, “It is my hope in the not-too-distant future that I would be flanked by a prominent Holy Cross sports lady on my left and a distinguished minority athlete on my right.”

Cousy is to be recognized not only for his extraordinary basketball career both at Holy Cross and with the Boston Celtics, but also for his generous and long-term commitment to the citizenry of Worcester and for his efforts to integrate the NBA racially during its early years.  The statue is expected to be unveiled in the summer of 2008.

Check out recent coverage of the event: WBZ-TV (Sept. 7, 2007) Celtics' Cooz Immortalized With Bronze Statue Telegram & Gazette (Sept. 8, 2007) Holy Cross captures ‘the Cooz’ in bronze

The MetroWest Daily News (Sept. 8, 2007) Courtside View: A true Crusader

Celtics.com (Sept. 11, 2007) Already Humble, Cousy Overwhelmed By Statue Plans

Lowell Sun (Sept. 17, 2007) Cousy statue bigger than life