Prove Me Wrong: Striking Number of Ex-College Hoopers Became FBI Agents

Loathsome leftists are trying to deflect causation of their incessant Hitler/Nazis/fascists rhetoric aimed at MAGA/Conservatives over the last 10 years while also diluting evidence uncovered regarding "Armed Queers" transtifa. Whatever their insidious tactics, they can't "Prove Me Wrong" about the impact of college basketball on FBI personnel.

FBI field offices in Buffalo, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and San Antonio assisted in the investigation into fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, the founder of nonprofit youth organization known as Turning Point USA, during one of his group's typical thought-provoking debates at Utah Valley University's campus. The vitriol exhibited by "the left" in aftermath of slaughter is appalling and was exemplified by low life donning same T-shirt as assassin trampling on local public makeshift memorial for Kirk.

Since DEI has been de-emphasized via new administration, it would be interesting to discern how many of these "G-men" working on public execution orchestrated by progressive puke were former basketball players. You should be aware there has been a striking number of ex-college hoopers across our country who became FBI agents over the decades (especially among the "Greatest Generation").

In a 1932 letter to a FBI member of the champions of the Government Basketball League, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover wrote: "I feel that the possession of physical prowess such as has been evidenced by you and your associate members of the basketball team, blended with the moral and mental qualities which are a necessary concomitant in the person of the athlete who may justly be called superior, is truly a source of gratification and that these augur well for your future success in this Bureau or in any walk of life which you may decide to pursue." Two years later, the recipient of this letter (Thomas J. Connor) was part of the contingent shooting and killing notorious John Dillinger outside a theater in Chicago.

Two of Canisius' top four scorers in 1950-51 (Don Hartnett and Bob Stoetzel) became FBI agents. Consider the following alphabetical list (including all-conference honorees Curt Jimerson, Red Morrison, Lynn Nance and Jim Waller plus at least seven FBI agents who attended Georgetown):

BRENDAN "MIKE" BALEN, Creighton
Marine veteran served as FBI special agent for 23 years before passing away at the age of 51 in fall of 2000. . . . Played in 10 games with the Bluejays in late 1960s.

GEORGE BENIGNI, Notre Dame/Georgetown
Served 27 years as a Special Agent for the FBI before retiring to start a career at a bank in Joliet, Ill. . . . Lettered with UND in 1945 before doing likewise for GU in 1947 when averaging 2.6 ppg. Selected in 21st round of 1949 AAFC draft by the Chicago Hornets as an end. Chosen in seventh round of 1950 NFL dispersal draft by the Detroit Lions, but opted for a career in the FBI.

EDDIE BREMBS, Georgetown
FBI agent served three-year hitch in U.S. Coast Guard during WWII. . . . Fordham transfer averaged 4.6 ppg with the Hoyas in 1946-47 and 1947-48.

LLOYD BUCK, Ohio University
FBI special agent from 1971 to 1994 before working for the Background Investigative Service (BICS). . . . Averaged 2.7 ppg with the Bobcats' 1964 Mideast Regional finalist coached by Jim Snyder.

CHRIS CALLAN, Georgetown
Joined the FBI in 1934 and served as an agent for 26 years. Involved in one of the most celebrated cases of the 1930s as lead agent in capture of "Public Enemy #1" Al Brady in fall of 1937. . . . Played with the Hoyas from 1927-28 through 1929-30.

IVAN COLE, Virginia Tech
FBI special agent in the Northeast before moving back to Virginia. . . . Played for the Hokies in late 1940s after serving in U.S. Army.

ADRIAN COULTER, East Tennessee State
Served as an FBI special agent from the mid-1960s to the mid-1990s. He had several high-profile Mafia and kidnapping cases. . . . The 6-6 Coulter averaged 4.9 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 1959-60 through 1961-62.

JOHN DAMPEER, Harvard
Special agent of the FBI from 1942 until the end of 1945. . . . Letterman with the Crimson in 1938.

WAYNE DAVIS, Connecticut
One of FBI's earliest black executives (25-year career included supervisory role in Indianapolis, Detroit and Philadelphia). Prior to 1962, the FBI had no African-American special agents who attended the FBI Academy (Davis was among four blacks breaking through the color barrier). He headed up the investigation into the May 1980 attempted assassination of Vernon Jordan, then-president of the National Urban League. . . . Davis averaged 7.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg for three UConn NCAA tourney teams from 1956-57 through 1958-59 under coach Hugh Greer, scoring 12 points in three playoff contests.

GREG DEEGAN, George Mason
FBI special agent. . . . Averaged 3.9 ppg and 1.7 rpg with the Patriots from 1978-79 through 1981-82.

TUCKER DUNN, Georgetown
Served in FBI before U.S. State Department. . . . Played for the Hoyas in 1954-55.

SAL FERRARA, St. John's
Worked as an FBI agent before becoming Director of Investigations for the New York State Racing and Wagering Board. . . . Averaged 1.3 ppg in 1938-39 and 1939-40 under coach Joe Lapchick.

TOM FITZPATRICK, Georgetown
FBI career spanned 29 years before retiring. . . . Averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.1 rpg with the Hoyas from 1958-59 through 1960-61.

JOHN FRANK, Georgetown
Field agent with the FBI from 1941 to 1948. Frank was linked to a number of CIA activities in the 1950s and 1960s, including an indictment for acting as a foreign agent for Dominican strongman Gen. Rafael Trujillo (sentenced to two years in prison in 1957). . . . Frank averaged 1.7 ppg with the Hoyas in both 1936-37 and 1937-38.

JOSEPH GARCIA, Pittsburgh
Entered FBI duty in March 1942 with assignments in San Antonio, El Paso, New Orleans, Washington DC, Cleveland, Lima (Peru), Havana (Cuba) and Mexico City. Stationed in Mexico for 16 years. After his retirement, he became president of Tupperware of Latin America for four years. . . . Basketball letterman from 1936 through 1938.

MIKE GEARTY, Detroit
Served as Special Agent in the FBI for 25 years before becoming Supervisory Special Agent for three years. . . . Averaged 1.2 ppg in 1966-67 and 1967-68 under coach Bob Calihan.

MILT GRAHAM, Colgate
Tackle played with the Boston Patriots for three years from 1961 through 1963 after competing in the Canadian Football League with the Ottawa Rough Riders (CFL All-Star in 1958 and member of Grey Cup championship team in 1960). He had been selected as an end by the Chicago Bears in the 14th round of the 1956 NFL draft. After retiring from football in 1964, he joined the FBI as a special agent, working in that capacity for 20 years. He was particularly proud of his role in the mid-1960s enforcing civil rights and opposing the Ku Klux Klan in Bogalusa, La. . . . The 6-6, 235-pound center averaged 8.7 ppg and 9.9 rpg from 1953-54 through 1955-56. He led the Red Raiders with 9.8 rpg as a sophomore and was team captain as a senior.

JONNY GRUSING, Texas Tech
FBI special agent focusing on public corruption and behavioral analysis. . . . Averaged 3.8 ppg as part-time starter in 1989-90.

DON HARTNETT, Canisius
Served in FBI for 28 years and helped bring some of Western New York's most infamous criminals to justice. Also had successive assignments out of offices in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco. He was one of the first agents to use the Federal Witness Protection Program to protect informants. Perhaps one of his biggest exploits was assisting in the 1976 recovery of a stolen 300-year-old Rembrandt painting ("Le Rabbin"). . . . Averaged team-high 12 ppg for the Golden Griffins in 1950-51.

DAN HOGAN, St. Bonaventure
FBI agent for nearly 30 years (many of which were in Glens Falls, N.Y., office). . . . Played with the Bonnies in 1948-49.

GEORGE JARVIS, Syracuse
FBI special agent from 1951 to 1976 specializing in organized crime and sports gambling. . . . Averaged 1.5 ppg for the Orange in 46 games from 1945-46 through 1948-49.

BURT JENSEN, Missouri
Spent almost 30 years as FBI agent. . . . Averaged 1.5 ppg with Mizzou in 1958-59 and 1959-60.

CURT JIMERSON, Wyoming
One of the first 20 black agents hired by the FBI in 1968. He was involved in the Patty Hearst kidnapping case by the Symbionese Liberation Army in Oakland in 1974 and the infamous Jonestown mass suicide inguyana in 1978. Jimerson spent most of his career battling organized crime, primarily originating in the Italian community. Retiring from the FBI in 1995, he subsequently worked as head of security for the Golden State Warriors. . . . All-Mountain States first-team selection in 1961-62 when averaging 17.5 ppg and 5.6 rpg.

JOHN KELLY JR., Notre Dame
U.S. Marine Corps veteran had a 27-year career as a Special Agent for the FBI. . . . Hoops letterman with the Fighting Irish in the mid-1940s.

JIM KENNEDY JR., Lehigh
FBI agent from early 1950s to mid-1960s. . . . Averaged 1.9 ppg for Lehigh in 1949-50 after serving hitch in U.S. Army.

AL KOEHLER JR., Wake Forest
FBI special agent for 27 years (including position as assistant direct of the Counterintelligence Division at DC headquarters) before becoming director of criminal investigation for the N.C. Department of Insurance. . . . Averaged 2.8 ppg and 1.4 rpg with the Demon Deacons from 1960-61 through 1962-63.

DAN KRAUS, Georgetown
FBI special agent from 1951 to 1977. . . . Averaged 8.1 ppg in three-year career interrupted by serving in U.S. Marine Corps during WWII. He was third-leading scorer for the Hoyas during 1943 NCAA tourney when they finished national runner-up.

JOSEPH "BUDDY" LEX, William & Mary
Served a three-year stint as an FBI agent. . . . Averaged 4 ppg with the Indians in 1947-48 after hitch in U.S. Army during WWII. He was an All-Southern Conference first-selection as a football end in 1949.

L.V. McGINTY JR., Tulane
Served as FBI special agent in Denver and Louisville field offices for 25 years. . . . Played for the Green Wave from 1960-61 through 1962-63 in Clifford Wells' last three years as coach.

DONALD McGORTY, Manhattan
Employed for 27 years as special agent in charge of FBI's New York office. . . . Averaged 9.3 ppg and 2.6 rpg from 1956-57 through 1958-59 under coach Ken Norton. Senior co-captain of NIT team after helping the Jaspers upset top-ranked West Virginia in 1958 NCAA Tournament East Regional.

R. "STEWART" McILVENNAN, Columbia
Navy veteran was an FBI agent before pursuing career in the trucking industry in labor relations. . . . Lions captain in 1941-42.

JIM McINTOSH, Villanova
FBI agent principally working with Philadelphia division conducted drugs seminars for athletes. . . . Averaged 5.5 ppg and 5 rpg with Nova from 1966-67 through 1968-69 under coach Jack Kraft.

PHIL McNIFF, George Washington
Head of FBI's Tampa office while working with agency for 30 years. In 1980, he became "fixer" as right-hand man of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. . . . Averaged 7.3 ppg with GWU in 1947-48 and 1948-49 after serving in U.S. Navy during WWII.

JAY MILLER, Notre Dame
Served as an FBI agent for 30 years before dying of a heart attack in spring of 2001 in Tempe, Ariz. . . . The 6-5 Miller averaged 13 ppg and 8.9 rpg from 1962-63 through 1964-65. He was a senior teammate of eventual MLB pitcher Ron Reed when they were the top two scorers for the Fighting Irish's NCAA tourney team in 1965.

MIKE MORCHOWER, Richmond
FBI agent from 1965 to 1967. . . . Averaged 3.6 ppg and 2 rpg with the Spiders from 1959-60 through 1961-62.

DWIGHT "RED" MORRISON, Idaho
FBI agent from 1963 to 1985. . . . Two-time All-PCC North Division second-team selection (1952-53 and 1953-54). He led the Vandals in rebounding both of those seasons.

JOE MULLANEY, Holy Cross
FBI agent before entering coaching profession. . . . Averaged 4.8 ppg with the Crusaders in 1947-48 and 1948-49. Sandwiched coaching stints at DI level with Providence and Brown around six professional franchises.

LYNN NANCE, Washington
Worked for FBI several years in early 1970s before returning to college coaching. . . . Juco recruit averaged 13.2 ppg and 7.1 rpg with the Huskies in 1963-64 and 1964-65 (All-AAWU second-team selection led them in scoring and rebounding with 17.5 ppg and 9.4 rpg). DI head coach for Iowa State, Saint Mary's and his alma mater.

BILL O'BRIEN, Loyola of Chicago
Joined the FBI for service during WWII. . . . Played with the Ramblers in the late 1930s, scoring nine points in 1939 NIT final against undefeated LIU.

RON OLENDER, Seton Hall
FBI special agent for 32 years. He worked counter intelligence in NYC. . . . Averaged 3.9 ppg and 2.9 rpg with the Pirates from 1958-59 through 1960-61.

DENNY O'SHEA, Holy Cross
Spent his career as a special agent for the FBI in Broward County (Fla.). In 2013, he received the French Foreign Legion Medal of Honor for serving in Europe during WWII. O'Shea was under General Patton's command and survived the Battle of the Bulge. . . . Member of back-to-back Final Four teams with the Crusaders in 1947 and 1948.

ED PETERSEN, Jersey City State
Head of the FBI in Newark, N.J., for many years before becoming director of security for major league baseball in 1997. . . . Captain of his college alma mater's basketball squad in the mid-1960s.

CHUCK RICHARDS, Army/Syracuse
FBI special agent for 27 years, relocating to Charlotte in 1970. In the mid-1980s, he was part of 10-man unit advising pro and college athletes on how to stay out of trouble. . . . The 6-9 Richards averaged 15 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 11 games as Army sophomore in 1961-62 before transferring to SU, where he averaged 18.4 ppg and 9.1 rpg in 1963-64 and 1964-65 as a teammate of All-American Dave Bing and eventual all-time winningest Orange coach Jim Boeheim.

ED SHEA, Fordham
FBI agent in Cleveland and Atlanta offices from 1951 to 1978. . . . Hoops letterman in 1946-47.

SELDON SLEDD, Austin Peay
Senior agent in FBI office in Hopkinsville, Ky., in spring of 2000 when he retired. He began his FBI career in spring of 1971. . . . Led the Governors in scoring and rebounding in 1964-65 with 15.4 ppg and 10.5 rpg.

PHIL STEWART, Wayne State (Mich.)
FBI special agent from 1951 to 1980 in Baltimore and Newark offices before serving as security consultant in the NHL. . . . Averaged 1.5 ppg from 1946-47 through 1948-49.

BOB STOETZEL, Canisius
Long-time special agent with the FBI including stints in Los Angeles and Chicago. . . . Averaged 5.4 ppg from 1949-50 through 1951-52. He was the Golden Griffins' third-leading scorer and rebounder as a senior.

TOM TOLAN, Manhattan/St. John's
Employed as a FBI agent before working over 40 years with UPI, where he became the sports editor. . . . Played for Manhattan in 1942-43 before his college career was interrupted by serving in U.S. military during WWII. Transferring to St. John's, two-year participant in NIT averaged 6.6 ppg from 1946-47 through 1948-49. He was runner-up to St. John's All-American Dick McGuire in scoring for the Johnnies in 1947-48.

TED TUCKER, Kent State
After serving in U.S. Marine Corps during WWII and played Organized Ball in the Cleveland Indians' farm system as an INF-OF in 1946 and 1947, he served as a special agent with the FBI from the early 1950s until his retirement in 1976. . . . Hoops letterman from 1940-41 through 1942-43.

VICTOR TURYN, Maryland
Special agent in charge of the FBI's Baltimore office. . . . Scored 25 points for the Terrapins in 1947-48 after QB played in school's first-ever bowl game (20-20 tie against Georgia in Gator Bowl).

ROBERT UTZ, Colgate
FBI agent from 1954 to 1982, serving in Los Angeles, Virginia and Buffalo area. . . . Averaged 5.1 ppg and 2.2 rpg with the Red Raiders in 1950-51 and 1951-52 (captain).

JIM WALLER, Wake Forest
FBI agent before becoming Police Chief of Winston-Salem, N.C., in 1950. . . . Two-time All-Southern Conference selection participated in inaugural NCAA tourney in 1939 when leading the league in scoring.