Bill Wheatley

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexMale
Full nameWilliam John "Bill"•Wheatley
Used nameBill•Wheatley
Born5 July 1909 in Gypsum, Kansas (USA)
Died5 February 1992 in El Cerrito, California (USA)
Measurements188 cm / 79 kg
AffiliationsMcPherson Oilers, McPherson, Kansas (USA)
NOC United States
Medals OG
Gold 1
Silver 0
Bronze 0
Total 1

Biography

Bill Wheatley never played college basketball but went right into the AAU leagues while in his early 20s. He was working for the Globe Oil & Refining Co. when they formed an AAU basketball team for which he would star. He made the 1936 Olympic team when his team finished second in the Olympic trials and, in Berlin, Bill Wheatley had the honor of mounting the victory podium to receive the wreath and gold medal at the awards ceremony He then continued to play AAU basketball until 1941. After 1941 Wheatley stayed involved in basketball both as a referee and a coach. His best team was the 1947 Oakland Bittners which he took to the finals of the AAU National Championship before losing to the Phillips 66ers. From 1948 through 1968, Bill Wheatley left coaching and worked as a superintendent on several construction crews. However in 1963, acting as coach and director, he took an AAU team on a 10-week tour of Africa. In his own words, in 1968, Bill Wheatley, “Got tired and retired!”

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1936 Summer Olympics Basketball (Basketball) USA Bill Wheatley
Basketball, Men (Olympic) United States 1 Gold