Northwestern Mourns the Loss of Basketball Great Joe Ruklick
9/17/2020 4:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
The Northwestern University community is saddened to learn of the passing of basketball great Joe Ruklick (SESP 1959, Medill 1990). Ruklick passed away Thursday of natural causes at the age of 82.
During his Northwestern career, Ruklick led the team in rebound and scoring for three consecutive year and finished with a career points per game mark of 19.9 and career rebounds average of 13.9. In addition to being named an All Big Ten selection (1957-58) and All-American (1958), Ruklick was a reporter for the Daily Northwesternand a member of the Deru honorary society.
After graduation, Ruklick was drafted by the NBA Philadelphia Warriors, where he played with Wilt Chamberlain for three seasons. Ruklick will be remembered for assisting on the final points of Chamberlain's legendary 100-point scoring effort in a 169-147 victory over the New York Knicks.
Our thoughts and condolences are with Ruklick's family and friends.
Chicago Trinue: Former Northwestern Great Part of Basketball History
Northwestern Libraries: Basketball Films, 1956-1959: The Joe Ruklick Collection
Northwestern Magazine: Baskets and Bylines: Joe Ruklick