Bud Stallworth

It has been 35 years since Bud Stallworth sent Allen Fieldhouse fans into a frenzy by scoring 50 points against Missouri in arguably the greatest individual performance in Kansas basketball history. Yet even today, Stallworth still gets a cheer from the crowd.

But the applause he receives these days is for his charity work rather than his athletic accomplishments. For Stallworth, chairman of Tuesday’s Rock Man Celebrity Golf Classic, knowing the money raised from the event will help children with special needs is more satisfying than any standing ovation.

“I’ve had many blessings in my life,” he said. “And now I’m in a position where I can make a difference.”

Stallworth, whose number 15 jersey hangs from the rafters of Allen Fieldhouse, is driven to lend a helping hand to others because he knows what a difference it can make. His journey to KU basketball immortality did not begin on the basketball court, but rather in the makeshift band room of his segregated Alabama public school. The talented trumpet player received scholarship money allowing him to attend a music camp in Lawrence, where he would ultimately fulfill his hardwood destiny. After helping the 1971 basketball team achieve unparalleled success, the Alabama gunslinger shot through the Kansas record books in 1972, scoring more points in conference play than any other player in KU history and coming within two points of tying Wilt Chamberlain’s school record for points scored in a game.

Stallworth, who at 6-foot-5 had the ball-handling ability of a point guard, was drafted in the first round in both ABA and NBA drafts, but a car accident in 1972 cut his promising career short.

The herniated disc in his back caused by the accident continues to plague him, but the 56-year-old Stallworth, still a competitor, continues to stay active. Stallworth, one of only three Kansas players to earn All-American honors for academics and athletics, returned to the University in 1987 and currently oversees budgets for multi-million dollar projects for Design and Construction Management. Over the last decade-and-a-half, the proud parent of five has found a new calling, charity.

“I thought I was going to be the next Louis Armstrong”

Stallworth grew up in Hartselle, Ala., just a jump shot away from the Arkansas border. He attended Morgan County Training Center, an all-black school for grades one through twelve.

The school allowed children of cotton farmers to leave school and return once cotton picking season was over. Stallworth, who began playing with the varsity team in seventh grade, said he often competed against older students who were in their 20s.

But in the Stallworth household, education and the arts held precedent over athletics. His parents agreed to let him to play basketball as long as he kept an ‘A’ average and learned to play the trumpet.

Stallworth would become a first-chair performer in jazz, concert and marching band and wowed audiences at local talent shows.

“I thought I was going to be the next Louis Armstrong,” Stallworth said.

At the age of 16, his musical talent earned him a scholarship to attend the University of Kansas Midwestern Music & Art Camp, led by Tonight Show band leader Doc Severinsen.

His parents encouraged the aspiring musician to attend the camp to hone his gifted musical skills. Little did they know band camp would provide an open lane to a slam-dunk basketball career.

Coach, “you’ve got to see this guy”

During lunch breaks at band camp, Stallworth would put down his trumpet and put on his Converse Chuck Taylor’s to play basketball at nearby Robinson Gymnasium, where players from the 1966 team, were playing pick-up games.

Sixteen-years-old, 6-foot-5 and skinny as a pole, Stallworth held his own against the likes of Jo-Jo White, Rich Bradshaw and Vernon Vanoy.

White said that after witnessing Stallworth’s drive to compete, he knew that the young basketball player “had a chance to become something special.”

He was so impressed with the young Stallworth he went straight into coach Ted Owens’ office and emphatically told his coach, “You’ve got to see this guy.”

Stallworth said he chose Kansas over local schools Alabama and Auburn, that were recruiting him to break the color barrier, because of its basketball tradition.

“The cardiac kids”

Because student athletes were not allowed to participate in varsity athletics as freshman, Stallworth did not see varsity action until 1970. He wasted no time asserting himself as a dominant player by scoring 27 points in the season opener against Marshall.

Coach Owens said that Stallworth was an amazing athlete who could “jump out of the gym.” Owens said his combination of size and quickness, Stallworth was “the prototype of today’s NBA guard.”

Stallworth would play a key role on the 1971 team, the only team in Kansas history to go unbeaten in conference play and win its conference tournament.

Stallworth said his team earned the nickname “the cardiac kids” after a bomb scare in its home opener against Long Beach State. The nickname stuck after the team won its last four regular season games and first two NCAA tournament games by a combined total of only 13 points. The Jayhawks advanced to the Final Four in Houston, setting up showdown with the UCLA Bruins.

Bud’s bunch found themselves down by 13 with less than five minutes to go against the talented Bruins. The team began to use a full-court, man-to-man press and the cardiac kids began their charge to resuscitate their national championship dreams.

Center Dave Robisch put Kansas ahead by two late in the game, but a controversial traveling call negated the basket. UCLA went on to win the game and it’s fifth consecutive NCAA championship.

Stallworth said he would never forget what UCLA coach John Wooden told him. After the game Wooden walked up to Stallworth, who was receiving treatment for an injury, and remarked, “It’s a nice day, isn’t it Bud.” When Bud replied that it was, Wooden scoffed, “But it could have been nicer.”

“When you’ve said Bud, you’ve said it all”

Fueled by Coach Wooden’s comments, Stallworth was poised to return to the Final Four his senior year in 1972. Stallworth averaged 25.3 points per game his senior year, the most ever by a KU player who did not play the center position.

Stallworth went on to lead the Big 8 in scoring, averaging 27.9 points per game in conference play. He still holds the record for most points scored in conference play in a season with 381.

Bob Frederick, the team’s assistant coach and future Athletic Director, remembers Stallworth as a “picture perfect” jump shooter who had the ability to pull up from anywhere on the court.

The 1972 team was plagued with injuries and ended the year with a disappointing record, but its last home game was a showdown with archrival Missouri.

With a victory, Norm Stewart’s Tigers could take the league crown and become eligible for NCAA tournament play. The day of the game Stallworth had read in a local newspaper that Stewart believed his star player, John Brown, should win conference player of the year honors, despite the fact Stallworth led the league in scoring.

“I took that personally,” Stallworth said. “At that time my ego said I’m the best player in this conference, bar none.”

Motivated by Stewart’s comments, Stallworth lit up the Tigers for 50 points in one of the greatest individual performances in Kansas basketball history.

When the final buzzer sounded students celebrated by mobbing Stallworth at halfcourt.

Frederick said had the three-point line been in existence, Stallworth would have had well over 60 points.

A career cut short

In 1972 Stallworth was drafted as the seventh pick of the first round by the Seattle Supersonics and would later play for the New Orleans Jazz. Stallworth competed against 27 of the leagues 50 greatest players.

Stallworth, who was a Pistol Pete’s teammate in New Orleans, said that he often matched up with legends like George “Iceman” Gervin, Walt Frazier and “Doctor” Julius Erving.

Stallworth’s career would be tragically cut short in 1977, when a cab he shared with some teammates ran a red light and broadsided another vehicle. The accident left Stallworth with a herniated disc in his lower back. Stallworth would go to several doctors but because of the nature of the injury he was forced to retire.

Father knows best

After a stint as a restaurant owner in Hawaii, Stallworth returned to Lawrence in 1987 to work at KU Design and Construction Management. He oversees the budget for construction projects and was in charge of 1996’s $40 million Crumbling Classroom initiative.

In his Carruth O’Leary office, you will find a wall of note books filled with construction documents, a radio playing songs from Magic 107.3 and picture after picture of his wife and five sons in their 20s: Jonathan, Ijon, Isaac III, Christian and Jehren.

Stallworth, whose proudest achievement is being one of only three Kansas players to earn All-America honors on the court and in the classroom, made sure his children put as much emphasis on their school work as they did in their athletic and social endeavors.

Son Jonathan said his father made sure academics was the his first priority.

Playing Through Pain

When Stallworth isn’t busy looking over budgets or spending time with his family, you can find him on the golf course or riding horses at his farmland property on the outskirts of Jefferson County.

Because surgery would leave him unable to participate in these activities, Stallworth chose to forgo surgery, against doctors’ wishes. For over 30 years Stallworth has gone through a regimen of daily therapy. Some days he is forced to wear a back brace, and on the “bad days,” he takes prescribed anti-inflammatory pills.

“It’s like playing Russian Roulette.” he said. “In another 20 years, who knows the consequences, but I might not be around, so right now I’m going to live.”

His Passion

Over the last 15 years Stallworth has been involved with charity organizations. By bringing in friends like NBA legends Jo-Jo White and George Gervin to the “Slice of Life” charity benefit, Stallworth has helped raise nearly $400,000 for the Kansas Area Medical Foundation.

This May he served as chair of the 2006 Rock Man Celebrity Classic, a benefit for the Sunshine Center of Independence, Mo., which helps children with special needs.

When Stallworth talks about his charity work he gets the same twinkle in his eye as when he talks about his days as a basketball star. Being intricately involved with local charities has become his “passion,” he said.

Former coach Ted Owens said although Stallworth would always be remembered as a KU basketball legend and owned records that may never be broken, he was more proud of the Stallworth’s charity work and the man he has become.

“It’s like Doctor Allen used to say when someone asked him who his best player was,” Owens said. “‘Let me wait 15 years and I’ll tell you.’”

— Edited by John Jordan