Men’s Basketball: B-ball legend Dean Church joins ranks of Lamar, Winkler, Toney

Zane Hill, The Vermilion, Feb. 29, 2012

Saturday, Feb. 25, then-USL alumnus and basketball legend Dean Church said it was "the thrill of a lifetime" to be the university’s first two-time All-American.

 

To have the university retire his jersey, however, is "the ultimate."

 

"You can’t get a bigger honor than that," Church assessed.

 

At halftime during the Ragin’ Cajuns’ Saturday game, Church’s No. 12 jersey became the university’s fourth retired basketball jersey, and his name joined Marvin Winkler’s, Bo Lamar’s and Andrew Toney’s in the Cajundome, a feat ESPN1420’s Jay Walker called "high cotton."

 

"To be joining guys like Lamar, Winkler, Toney—that’s a select group of people," the humble Church said.

 

Church played from 1961-65, during which he racked up 1,546 career points, the 12th most in school history. Among the numerous records he holds to this day is a one-season 237 free throws, accomplished in his ‘65 season.

 

The Ashland, Ky., native was one of four recruits legendary coach Beryl Shipley got from the state that year. Church’s only scholarship offer came from USL. His junior year, however, Church dropped out and returned to Kentucky.

 

"I was eating my last dinner with my friends. Somebody called coach Shipley in the meantime," Church told Walker on his radio program Thursday. "He came over to my place and saw my packed bags. He was screaming mad. He wanted to physically beat me.

 

"I later realized how stupid I was, selling toys back home," he added.

 

Shipley’s team played in Kentucky twice that season, during which Church met with Shipley to take back his decision.

 

"I never caused him a minute’s trouble since then," Church said.

 

In front of former teammates, his family, alumni and school officials, Church gave the late coach, whom he called "a friend for life," credit for his accomplishments, career and family. Shipley was Church’s best man in his wedding to fellow USL graduate Sally Evans of Harvey.

 

Among the crowd packing the UL Alumni House was former teammate Jimmy Dykes.

 

"I was the 12th man on a 12-man team. I sat on the end of the bench," Dykes joked. "I had the pleasure of watching Dean become a two-time All-American and can say, in those days, he was the best of the best. No question about it."

 

Dykes said his interaction with Church came out of when Church had a poor game.

"And he had very few of those. Coach Shipley would let me guard him (at practice) the next day so it would build his confidence back up for his shooting," he said.

 

"To be honest, I don’t remember Jimmy being on the team…" Church joked back. Dykes told the audience Church was the kind of player who, when he went on the court, elicited people to nudge the person next to them and say, "Watch this."

 

In 1966, Church entered his career at Avondale Shipyards in New Orleans, where he worked his way up to vice president and chief administrative officer before retiring in 2000. He and his wife, who now reside in Luling, have three children and five grandchildren.

Athletic Network Footnote: Please click here for the Dean Church Jersey Retirement Page.