Rice Institute basketball player William G. "Big Bill" Henry

Black and white photograph of Rice Owls basketball player William G. Henry, accompanied by text headlining his achievement and entry into the Rice Athletic Hall of Fame.Caption reads: William G. “Big Bill” Henry (class of 1945) was the first Rice basketball player to be acclaimed unanimously an all-America player. Under coach Joe Davis in World War II years, the Henry-led Owls shared the SWC title twice and won it outright with a 12-0 conference record and a 20-1 full season in 1944-45. Standing six-feet-nine and 220 pounds-plus, Bill re-wrote all of Rice’s scoring record. His 280 points in 1945’s 12 victories stood as the SWC record for a decade. After graduation and a brief time in pro basketball, Bill returned to his hometown, Dallas, where he was successful in business and a civic leader, as well as a leading Owl booster. He passed away in Dallas in 19863.Rice University Athletic Hall of Fame (poor quality image