Tom Boerwinkle obit

He was not on the list

Tom Boerwinkle dies; former Bulls center was 67

Tom Boerwinkle, the former Chicago Bulls center who had a franchise-record 37 rebounds in a 1970 game against the Phoenix Suns, has died. He was 67.

Tom Boerwinkle, the former Chicago Bulls center who had a franchise-record 37 rebounds in a 1970 game against the Phoenix Suns, has died. He was 67.

Bulls spokesman Tim Hallam said Wednesday that a family member informed team officials of Boerwinkle's death, and the University of Tennessee issued a statement saying the former Volunteers player died Tuesday at his home near Chicago after a lengthy illness.

The 7-foot Boerwinkle, drafted fourth overall in 1968, averaged 7.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 10 seasons with the Bulls from 1968-69 to 1977-78. He also worked as an analyst on the team's radio broadcasts from 1991-94.

"We were all heartbroken this morning to learn of the passing of Tom Boerwinkle," said Steve Schanwald, the Bulls' executive vice president of business operations. "In addition to being one of the Bulls' all-time great players, Tom was one of the kindest men you would ever want to meet with the gentlest of souls. A true gentle giant who made great contributions to the Chicago Bulls' organization on and off the court."

Boerwinkle, from Independence, Ohio, averaged 11.4 points and 9.2 rebounds at Tennessee, helping the Vols win the 1967 Southeastern Conference title. As a senior in 1967-68, he averaged 15.2 points and 11.3 rebounds.

"Tom was a once-in-a-lifetime guy," former Tennessee teammate Bill Justus said in a statement released by the university. "When you meet a guy like him and have him as a teammate, he becomes a brother to you, and there's no replacing someone like that. Despite his sheer size and presence, he was as genuine and loyal as can be. That's not just me saying that. Those are the sentiments of many, many of his former teammates."

Bob Love said he "cried all day" after learning Wednesday of the death of his former Bulls teammate Tom Boerwinkle.

Known for his deft passes, aggressive rebounding and uncanny ability to facilitate the offense, Boerwinkle died Tuesday at 67.

A first-round NBA draft pick (fourth overall) out of Tennessee in 1968, the 7-foot, 260-pound Boerwinkle played his entire NBA career for the Bulls, averaging 7.2 points, 9 rebounds and 3.2 assists from 1968-78. He was known for passing and setting hard picks to create scoring opportunities for Chet Walker, Jerry Sloan, Norm Van Lier and Love.

"He understood his role extremely well," Hall of Fame center Artis Gilmore said Wednesday from his home in Florida. "He had a very big body and he absorbed a lot of space. With those behind-the-back and over-the-head passes, he was very good. He understood the game and he played intelligent basketball." 

His notable teammates were: Bob Boozer, Clem Haskins, Bob Love, Jerry Sloan, Chet Walker, Shaler Halimon, Matt Guokas, Clifford Ray, Norm Van Lier, Jimmy Collins, Garfield Heard, Bob Weiss, Rick Adelman, Nate Thurmond, Mickey Johnson, Jack Marin, Artis Gilmore, Nick Weatherspoon, Cazzie Russell, A. W. Davis and Scott May.

Some of his coaches were: Dick Motta, Ray Mears and Ed Badger. He was never coached by Johnny "Red" Kerr, but Kerr was in the Bull's front office during his playing career, and Boerwinkle and Kerr both were employed as members of the Bull's broadcast team during the championship seasons.