Evening star. [volume], November 18, 1956, Page 7, Image 176

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
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Sam Fox with some of the men on his Turkish national basket
ball team. They challenged NATO countries and played sat
ellite teams from Hungary and Yugoslavia under his coaching.
Mission to Turkey
Sam Fox Taught the Turks to Play Basketball
By MEREDITH S. BUEL
REMEMBER, as a youngster, lifting the thoughts from
adventure books and dreaming of conquering far-away
lands—of being acclaimed by thousands?
For Sam Fox, such a dream came true. His achieve
ments might be summarized in these words: From a toast
in football, he became a Turkish delight.
Sam returned recently from Turkey, where he spent 11
months introducing basketball as a part of the State
Department's International Education Exchange Program.
As a result of his efforts, basketball now is second only to
soccer in popularity among the Turks. And Sam himself
is the next thing to a national hero.
Why was this former gridiron star and professional
football coach such a success in a strange country some
10,000 miles from his red brick home at 1515 Underwood
street N.W.?
Sam, the athlete, was well Qualified for the assignment.
He’s starred in football and basketball at Central High
School and then at Ohio State University. During World
War n, he coached these sports at Navy bases and at
universities. Later, he played two seasons as an end for
the New York Giants, being named a rookie lineman of the
year. In 1948, at 27, he became the youngest coach in
professional football history when he led the Ottawa Rough
Riders to the championship in the Canadian League.
And Sam, the man, was qualified, too. He understood
human nature, as was evidenced during his war years as
a Navy training officer. He evaluated the recruit’s problems
so well that his book, Hey Mac, sold nearly half a million
copies.
Sam was director of information and recreation for
the Kansas City <Mo.) community centers last year. A
friend urged him to apply for a three-month State De
partment grant to set up a basketball program in Turkey.
For most, it would have been tough to give up a regular
job. But to Sam, the athlete, it was a challenge. And to
Sam, the man, it meant additional friendships and a
chance to do something for his country. CONTINUED
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On the sidelines, Sam yells instructions to players in English. This was one way to teach
English and sports at the same time. Soon, Turk fans were yelling, "Get those rebounds!"
THE SUNOAT STAR MAGAZINE, WASHINGTON. 0. C., NOVEMBER IS. I9st
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