IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa men’s basketball player Herb Thompson passed away on July 1, in Moline, Illinois, at the age of 91.
Thompson was born and raised in Forest City, Iowa, and graduated from Forest City High School and earned all-state honors in basketball in 1949. He continued his basketball career at the University of Iowa where he was a team captain and earned MVP honors as a senior in 1953.
He was the team’s second highest scorer as a senior in 1953, averaging 13.5 points per game. Thompson was the team’s best defensive player and ranked third on the squad in scoring his junior season in 1952, averaging 8.5 points per game, on Bucky O’Connor’s first team as Iowa’s head coach that won 19 games and finished second in the Big Ten. He averaged 5.9 points as a sophomore.
After college, Thompson served in the U.S. Air Force for two years. He coached high school basketball and taught history and physical education for 22 years, the last 14 at Moline High School.
His basketball career led to him being named to the Iowa High School Basketball Players Hall of Fame and the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 8, at 10 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Moline. Visitation is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe in Moline.