Gola, Thomas J. (Tom)The greatest basketball player in LaSalle College history, turned in four sensational seasons during the early 1950s. Gola. 6 foot-6 forward. set a collegiate mark for rebounds during his All-American career.
(Inducted into the Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1977)See Tom Gola Bio on the Polish Sports Hall of Fame website
From: National Polish Sports Hall of Fame
Thomas Joseph Gola
Former basketball player, insurance agent, executive
Born Jan. 13, 1933, Philadelphia (PA), U.S.; son of Isadore and Helen (Mieleska); married Caroline (Norris); child: Thomas Ch.
Education: Bachelor of Science (B.S.), La Salle University, Philadelphia, 1955; Purdue University, West Lafayette (IN). 1965.
Career: professional basketball player, National Basketball Association, 1956-66; Pennsylvania State Representative, 1966-70; in Philadelphia - president, Thomas J. Gola Insurance Agency, Inc., 1967 -, city controller, 1970-74, board directors member, Ben Franklin S & L Association, 1974 -, president, G & S Company, 1975-86, regional administrator, Department of Housing & Urban Development, 1981-83, vice president, Valley Forge Investment Corporation, 1983 -.
Author: commentator, Philadelphia 76'ers basketball radio broadcasts, 1967-68.
Member of, i.a.: chairman, Delaware Valley National Hemophilia Foundation, 1969; President's Council on Physical Fitness, 1969; coach, La Salle Basketball Team, 1969-70; Philadelphia Committee for Youth, 1970; National Basketball Association (Philadelphia Warriors, 1955-62, New York Knicks, 1962-66, NBA All Star Game, 1960-64); constructor and manager, ice-skating rink, Philadelphia, 1974-78; Screen Actors Guild.
Honors, i.a.: Lincoln Award, Philadelphia Germantown Republican Club, 1970; Man of the Year, Northeast Philadelphia Young Republicans, 1972; Outstanding Service to the City, State and Country awards, Northeast Philadelphia Realty Board, 1973; honorary mention, 4th Multiple Sclerosis Dinner of Champions, 1977; "Living Legend" award, Philadelphia Sportswriter, 1983; named to Madison Square Garden's All-Time National Invitation Tournament Team, 1984; All-America (4 times); Basketball Hall of Fame; Polish American Hall of Fame; National Invitation Tournament, National Collegiate Athletic Association, and National Basketball Association Champion (one of two players ever to win).
Served with: U.S. Army, Signal Corps, corporal, 1956-58.
Affiliation: Republican. Catholic.
Languages: English, Spanish, Polish.
Hobbies: golf, fishing, old cars.
Office: Valley Forge Investment Corp., 120 S. Wamer Rd., Valley Forge, PA 19482.
From: "Who's Who in Polish America" 1st Edition 1996-1997, Boleslaw Wierzbianski editor; Bicentennial Publishing Corporation, New York, NY, 1996