Charlie Slack obit

Charles (Charlie) Eugene Slack, Sr.

February 26, 1931 — July 3, 2020

 

He was not on the list.

Charles (Charlie) Eugene Slack, Sr., 89, passed away July 3, 2020.

Charlie was born in Pomeroy, Ohio, February 26, 1931 and has been a Massillon resident from 1978 - 2018.  He retired from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1991 - after 35 years of service - as the Director of Personnel and Management Development.   Out of high school, he served four years in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, then went on to graduate from Marshall University with a degree in Education.  While attending Marshall he played football and basketball his freshman year and in his sophomore year, after getting married, he chose to concentrate on basketball.  He went on to have an outstanding basketball career, leading the nation in rebounding in 1954-55 with a season average of 25.6 rebounds per game, an NCAA record that still stands.  Charlie was twice a first team Mid-American Conference selection and his Marshall jersey, number 17, was retired following his induction into the Marshall University Hall of Fame.   Charlie was a member of the ODK National Honor Society, was active in student government and was President of his senior class.

Charlie played five years with the Goodyear Wingfoot Basketball Team and still holds numerous rebounding records with the National Industrial Basketball League.  In 1985, Charlie was inducted into the Summit County Sports Hall of Fame; in 1987 into the state of West Virginia Hall of Fame; and in 2019 he was inducted into the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame.  Charlie was a member of the St. Frances de Sales Catholic Church, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club, the Massillon Recreation Center and the Nagoya-Komaki Japan Retirement Organization.

Preceded in death by his parents, Harley and Margaret Slack, he is survived by his wife Alma; sons Charles Jr. (Denise), Joel (Magdalena); and grandchildren Nick (Sionne), Brian and Ana.

Considered one of the greatest rebounders in college basketball history, he had his Marshall uniform number (#17) retired in January 2000 In his four-year career with the Thundering Herd, from 1952–53 to 1955–56, Slack compiled 1,916 career rebounds, which is third all-time behind Tom Gola's 2,201 and Joe Holup's 2,030. Additionally, Slack's effort of 43 rebounds against Charleston (West Virginia) on January 12, 1954, is the second highest single game rebound total in NCAA history behind Bill Chambers' 51. Slack owns the top four spots on Marshall's season rebounding average list with 25.6, 23.6, 22.2 and 16.3 rebounds per game. A prodigious rebounder, he also scored 1,551 points during his career.

Due to COVID-19, there will be no public funeral services or gatherings at this time.  Donations can be made to the Haven of Rest Ministries, 175 E. Market Street, Akron, OH 44308, in lieu of flowers.

Donations:

Haven of Rest Ministries

175 E Market St, Akron OH 44308

 

Career information

High school     Pomeroy (Pomeroy, Ohio)

College            Marshall (1952–1956)

NBA draft        1956: 4th round, 30th overall pick

Drafted by       Fort Wayne Pistons

Position           Forward

Career history

1956–1961      Akron Goodyear Wingfoots

Career highlights

NCAA rebounding leader (1955)

2× First-team All-MAC (1955, 1956)

No. 17 retired by Marshall Thundering Herd