Prayers for Tom Austin

[LS71]

^^ Those days at the Cage are what lit my fire for UMass basketball. Like harbo said, 'The roller-coaster ride since has been fantastic and I wouldn't trade it for anything', either. I took my kids to games when Gerlufsen and Cal was here and I've been taking my grandchildren since 2011. UMass has enhanced the quality of the time we've spent together as a family.

I'm forever appreciative to all who have been part of the program over the years for their hard work and their dedication to UMass!

You're absolutely right...to get a seat, we had to stand in line for hours in winter weather. Every home game was a double-header too...the freshman game followed by the varsity game. Time wise it was quite a commitment! As a result my roommate and I decided to buy season tickets ($35) to avoid those lines and waiting in the cold for the the 70-71 season.

[philosopher]

Tom rests in peace - for those knew him, remember him with peace and a smile.

[tom mclaughlin]

Someone jokingly hinted that they could have done without the Wilson years which is fine and I can understand but I want to say that those years would have been tough for anyone and Ray was unfortunate in his timing. UMass was coming off continued success in the Yankee Conference and now was thrust into the new conference the Atlantic Ten with Pitt, West Va, Penn State, Temple, GW, Rutgers, Duquesne, St Bonaventure and URI. Playing in a building that literally had a court on a dirt floor with bleachers that we're lucky didn't collapse and kill students. In a nutshell you weren't
going to win in that conference without 2 or 3 studs and at least 1 NBA type player.
Ray Wilson was a true gentleman and he was also honest and a caring. He gave much more then he ever took from UMass. Think of all he did for the program and look at the total body of work he performed in all his years. People always talk about watching Julius in the Cage and what a thrill it was. Well without Ray Wilson Julius never comes to UMass and you can say that about Al Skinner. Ray Wilson was caught in a program in a difficult transition without the support he deserved. He was a gentleman and did the best he could with what he had. Ray Wilson helped build the UMass basketball program and you couldn't find a better gentleman and person. He deserves credit for what he did!

[DrG]

^ Absolutely correct. Ray was in a no-win situation . . . as were you, Tom, when you took over. I have to chuckle at UMass fans who got spoiled during the Cal years and have been grumbling ever since. They have no idea what it was like back in those days. An obsolete gym, little support from the University (from within and without), an indifferent Athletic Department at the top level (although there were many good people in subordinate positions). Today, we have top-notch facilities, we play in a good conference, and we have an Athletic Director who's really trying. Hopefully our new coach will get us back to where we'd like to be.

My condolences to Tom Austin's family, his teammates and the entire UMass basketball family.

[tom mclaughlin]

One of U-Mass All-Time great athletes Tom Austin passed away in his adopted hometown of Geneva Switzerland on Monday, May 8th. Tom passed away after suffering from a long battle with cancer.
Tom came to U-Mass in the greatest basketball recruiting class in Minuteman history. He entered U-Mass in 1968 with Julius Erving, John Betancourt and Rick Vogeley. Tom's biggest contributions came during the 1972-73 season. His six foot nine inch presence was in the starting lineup all season and helped UMass advance to the quarter-finals of the NIT. In front of a capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden Tom along with Al Skinner and Rick Pitino helped the Minuteman put a scare into the legendary North Carolina Tar Heels in a game that is still considered one of the greatest N I T games ever played. U-Mass finished the season 20-7 and won the Yankee Conference with a record of 10-2 that season.
Tom also was a star relief pitcher in baseball. From 1970 thru 1972, Tom established an ERA of under 1.00 per game. His six saves in 1972 still ranks 2nd on U-Mass all time saves list for a season.
After graduating from U-Mass in 1973 Tom was drafted by the Boston Celtics. He continued his professional basketball career in Switzerland where he established a dual citizenship. Over several summers Tom would return to his Massachusetts roots and joined his former U-Mass teammates John Murphy, Jim Burke and Bill Endicott to help Charlie's Surplus win several semi-pro summer league basketball championships in Worcester. In June of 2013 Tom was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall Of Fame in the category of Semi-Pro player.
Tom Austin spent many years after his basketball career ended living and working in Geneva Switzerland as a Computer Engineer.
Tom's family consisted of all of his former U-Mass teammates and his many SAE Fraternity Brothers.
No one was ever more proud to represent the U-MASS MINUTEMEN than the beloved Thomas Austin.

Written by
Mark "Pathfinder" Epstein
843-864-9251
[email protected]

My Best, Pathfinder

[Bay Area UMie]

Someone jokingly hinted that they could have done without the Wilson years which is fine and I can understand but I want to say that those years would have been tough for anyone and Ray was unfortunate in his timing. UMass was coming off continued success in the Yankee Conference and now was thrust into the new conference the Atlantic Ten with Pitt, West Va, Penn State, Temple, GW, Rutgers, Duquesne, St Bonaventure and URI. Playing in a building that literally had a court on a dirt floor with bleachers that we're lucky didn't collapse and kill students. In a nutshell you weren't
going to win in that conference without 2 or 3 studs and at least 1 NBA type player.
Ray Wilson was a true gentleman and he was also honest and a caring. He gave much more then he ever took from UMass. Think of all he did for the program and look at the total body of work he performed in all his years. People always talk about watching Julius in the Cage and what a thrill it was. Well without Ray Wilson Julius never comes to UMass and you can say that about Al Skinner. Ray Wilson was caught in a program in a difficult transition without the support he deserved. He was a gentleman and did the best he could with what he had. Ray Wilson helped build the UMass basketball program and you couldn't find a better gentleman and person. He deserves credit for what he did!

No question, Ray Wilson had a very positive, lasting impact on UMass. We are a better institution, athletic department and basketball program because of Mr. Wilson’s many contributions.

[daveyboy]

Tom Austin was a 2sport star at Case High School in Swansea Ma. I came from Somerset,which is the next town to the east of Swansea,just outside of Fall River. I really never knew Tom,but on a few occasions
I gave him a ride home from campus to Swansea. The interesting thing was my car
Was a karmann Ghia,and Tom was 6 foot 9. No problem,he fit nicely,though the knees just cleared the dash.What I knew just by talking was he was a thoughtful gentleman,very polite,so ft spoken,and a regular guy. He told me while he liked basketball,baseball was his favorite sport. Unselfishly he offered to pay for the ride and the gas,but he was such a great guy I wouldn't hear of it. I know he is with the angels