William Mokray
Inducted:
1965
Stats
Born
June 6, 1907
Passaic, New Jersey
Died
March 21, 1974
Revere, Massachusetts, U.S.
Position
Contributor
College
University of Rhode Island
William "Bill" Mokray is widely recognized as basketball's foremost early historian, statistician, and archivist. Though poor eyesight prevented him from playing on the court, Mokray turned his passion for the sport into a monumental behind-the-scenes career that shaped professional and collegiate basketball records. He served as Public Relations Director for the Boston Celtics for 21 years (1946–1967), basketball director for the Boston Garden, and official historian for the NBA.
Mokray founded and served as the first editor for The Official NBA Guide, authored the 900-page Ronald Basketball Encyclopedia, and was appointed as the inaugural Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Honors Committee. For his lifetime dedication to cataloging, preserving, and promoting the game's history, he was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a Contributor in 1965.
Mokray's Awards and Honor
- Founder and First Editor of The Official NBA Guide
- Author of the 900-Page Ronald Basketball Encyclopedia
- Author of the History of Basketball Entry for Encyclopædia Britannica
- Helms Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee
- NAIA Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee University of Rhode Island Athletic Hall of Fame
- Authored major historical and reference works about basketball
NBA Position
Director
Boston Celtics
Founded and Editor
Official NBA Guide
Chairman
Basketball Hall of Fame Honors Committee
NBA Stats
Boston Celtics Director:
1946–1967
Founder & Chief Editor:
The Official NBA Guide
Hall of Fame Honors Committee Chairman:
1959–1964
Concept Introduced:
College Basketball Doubleheaders