Dr. Jack E. Nichols
April 9, 1926 – December 24, 1992
Early Years
Jack was born in Wenatchee, in eastern Washington, but grew up in Monroe and Everett, just north of Seattle. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Rudy Nichols and was the second oldest of 5 children. Jack graduated from Everett high school in 1943 after leading the Seagulls to the state playoffs in basketball. He also played baseball and football in high school.
College
Jack entered the University of Washington in the fall of 1943. Like his dad and three brothers, he joined the Sigma Nu fraternity. Due to conditions during World War II, Jack was able to play college basketball as a freshman. At 6’7”, he played center and perfected a left-handed hook shot. He was captain of the team and was named to the all-conference northern division team. In 1944 Jack joined the U.S. Navy V-12 officer-training program and was stationed in Los Angeles where he enrolled at USC and joined the USC chapter of Sigma Nu. He played football, baseball, and basketball while at USC. He was the team captain in 1946 and received the Sam Berry Most Valuable Player award in 1946. He was named to the all-conference southern division team in 1945 and 1946.
He returned to the University of Washington in 1946 as a Lieutenant in the Navy and re-joined the Husky basketball team. He played two more years for the Huskies, graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science degree. He was selected for the all-conference northern division team both years, and was named a Helm’s Foundation First Team All-American in 1948. During the 1948 season, he set the UW single game scoring record with 39 points (no shot clock or 3-point shot in those days), and the season scoring record. He scored 1,067 points in his three years at the UW and still ranks in the top 30 all-time leading scorers for the school. He led the team to the northern division title by winning a one game play-off against Oregon State and won the Pacific Coast Conference championship by beating Cal in a three game series. The team went on to compete in the NCAA Western Regionals, finishing third.
Professional Basketball
Jack was drafted in the first round by the Washington Capitols and joined the team in January 1949. The Capitols were coached by Red Auerbach who signed Jack to whatever team he was coaching (Capitols, Tri-City Blackhawks, and finally the Boston Celtics). The Capitols lost the championship series to George Mikan and the Minneapolis Lakers in 6 games. Jack played professional basketball for another 9 years, retiring after the 1957/58 season. He averaged just over 10 points and 7 rebounds per game. He played in three championship series, helping the Celtics win their first in 1957. He was called to active service in the Marines twice during the 1950s, causing him to miss two seasons of basketball. He participated in the first game played with the 24-second clock (scored 14 points) and was 7th in the league in scoring in 1953. In a game in 1955, he scored 31 points and gathered 24 rebounds. He joined the Celtics at the beginning of the 1953/54 season, and played with Bob Cousy, Bill Sharman, Bill Russell, Frank Ramsey, and Tommy Heinsohn, among others. In 1954 Jack was accepted into the Tufts Dental School in Massechusetts. For the next 4 years, he attended school full time while also playing basketball for the Celtics full time. His basketball salary funded his schooling (he was paid $10,000 for the 1957/58 season by the Celtics).
Life after Basketball
Upon retiring from the Celtics, Jack returned to Seattle and opened his dental practice. He served as the dentist for the University of Washington athletic department and as the team dentist for the Seattle Super Sonics. Jack was elected president of the Washington State Dental Association in 1985. In 1988 he was elected First Vice-President of the American Dental Association. During his terms of office he worked to promote the use of mouth guards for high school and college athletes. He also organized an effort to provide dental school textbooks for the Department of Dental Surgery at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. He ultimately succeeded in collecting and delivering over 3,000 books. His civic involvement included a stint as the Prime Minister of Seattle Seafair in 1968, and as the Commissioner of Basketball for the 1990 Goodwill Games. He was a member of University Rotary club, and a Board Trustee for the March of Dimes. He retired from the Navy Reserves as a Captain.
Honors
Jack was inducted into the University of Washington Hall of Fame in 1980, the Washington State Sports Hall of Fame in 1965, and the Pac-10 Men’s Basketball Hall of Honor in 2005. He was also named to the University of Washington’s All-Century Men’s Basketball team.
Fraternity
Jack was a member of the Gamma Chi chapter of Sigma Nu at the University of Washington, and also spent 2 years at the Sigma Nu chapter at USC. He served as house president in 1947, and in 1967 was named Sigma Nu alumni Man of the Year.
Miscellaneous
Jack’s father, Rudy was a Sigma Nu at Oregon State. Jack’s brothers, Rudy Jr., Bob, and Bill were all members of Sigma Nu at the University of Washington. Jack’s sister, Marge, married Bob Ely, a Sigma Nu at the UW. Jack’s nephews, Gary, Rob, Dave, and Pete Nichols, as well as nephew John Ely were also members of Sigma Nu at the UW.
Jack was married twice. He had two children (Steve and Robin) with his first wife, Gloria. His second wife, JoAnne Nichols, currently splits her time between Seattle and Palm Desert.
College and Professional Basketball Career Summary and Highlights
College (Enrolled at USC for 2 years due to WWII and military service commitment)
1943-44 Season – University of Washington (26-6 Overall, 15-1 Conference)
Team Captain
All-Pacific Coast Conference (PCC) Selection
Fifth in scoring Pacific Coast Conference Northern Division
1944-45 Season – University of Southern California (16-9 Overall, 8-4 Conference)
All Pacific Coast Conference Selection
Led the Pacific Coast Conference Southern Division in scoring
1945-46 Season – University of Southern California (14-7 Overall, 8-4 Conference)
All Pacific Coast Conference Selection
Third in scoring for Pacific Coast Conference Southern Division
1946-47 Season – University of Washington (16-8 Overall, 8-8 Conference)
All-Pacific Coast Conference Selection
1947-48 Season – University of Washington (23-11 Overall, 10-6 Conference)
Team Captain
All-Pacific Coast Conference Selection
Helm’s Foundation All-American Selection
UW single game scoring record with 39 points against Idaho on March 5, 1948 (now 7th)
UW single season scoring record set against Idaho on March 6, 1948
March 1948 defeated Oregon State in a one-game playoff for the PCC N. Div. Title
March 1948 Defeated University of California (2-1) for the PCC Championship
March 1948 Lost to Baylor 64-62 in the NCAA Western Region Semi-Finals (17 points)
Defeated Wyoming 57-47 for third place in the NCAA Western Region (22 points)
Scored 1,067 points in three seasons for the University of Washington (11.9 ppg)
Named to the All-Pacific Coast Conference Team for 5 years – never been done since
1980 – Inducted into the University of Washington Hall of Fame
Professional (Missed 1.5 seasons due to military service from 10/50 to 4/52)
1948-49 Season – Washington Capitols of the B.A.A. (38-22)
Joined the Capitols in December 1948
Capitols were Eastern Division Champions
Lost to the Minneapolis Lakers in the championship finals (4 games to 2)
1949-50 Season – Washington Capitols (32-36), Tri-City Blackhawks (29-35)
Traded to the Tri-City Blackhawks in February 1950
Lost to Anderson in the Western Division semi-finals (2 games to 1)
1950-51 Season – Tri-City Blackhawks (25-43), U.S. Marines
Recalled to military service for the Korean War in October 1950
Did not return to professional basketball until April 1952
1952-53 Season – Milwaukee Hawks (27-44)
Led the team in scoring with 15.8 points per game
Seventh in the league in scoring
1953-54 Season – Milwaukee Hawks (21-51), Boston Celtics (42-30)
Traded to Boston November 30, 1953
Lost to Syracuse in Eastern Division finals (2 games to 0)
1954-55 Season – Boston Celtics (36-36)
Lost to Syracuse in Eastern Division Finals (2 games to 1)
1955-56 Season – Boston Celtics (39-33)
Led team in rebound with 10.5 per game
Scored 14.3 points per game
January 1, 1956 against Philadelphia had 31 points and 24 rebounds
Lost to Syracuse in Eastern Division Semi-Finals (2 games to 1)
1956-57 Season – Boston Celtics (44-28), NBA Champions
Defeated St. Louis in the NBA Finals (4 games to 2)
1957-58 Season – Boston Celtics (49-23)
Lost to St. Louis in the NBA Finals (4 games to 2)
Retired from professional basketball, April 1958
Professional Career Statistics (December 1948 – April 1958)
Regular Season
Games FG% FT% DQ Scoring Avg. Rebound Avg.
504 .369 .752 33 10.4 6.9
Playoffs
Games FG% FT% DQ Scoring Avg. Rebound Avg.
51 .389 .739 2 10.2 4.1
Appeared in three Finals (1949, 1957, and 1958) winning one (1957)