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Waterloo Hawks
Waterloo Hawks
Waterloo Hawks
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The Waterloo Hawks were a National Basketball League and National Basketball Association team based in Waterloo, Iowa. The Hawks remain the only sports franchise ever based in Iowa from any of the current Big Four Leagues. They are not affiliated with and have no relation to the fellow NBL turned NBA team known then (1946-1951) as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, who are presently the Atlanta Hawks.

Key Information

Franchise history

[edit]
An autographed program from the Waterloo Hawks 1949–50 season.

The Waterloo Hawks were founded in 1948, playing in the National Basketball League. In 1949, the National Basketball League was absorbed by its rival, the Basketball Association of America, forming the National Basketball Association; the Hawks were thus a founding member of the NBA. When the Hawks joined the NBA properly, their roster consisted of players that previously played for the Hammond Calumet Buccaneers in the previous and final season of the NBL.[1] In the 1949–1950 season, their first and only one in the NBA, they finished 19–43, fifth out of six in the Western Division. The Waterloo Hawks are of no relation to the current-day Atlanta Hawks franchise; at the time of Waterloo's existence in the NBA, the latter franchise was based in Moline, Illinois as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (and moved to Milwaukee when Waterloo's franchise folded).

The National Basketball Association contracted after the 1949–1950 season. The league went from 17 teams to 11 before the 1950–1951 season started. Midway through the 1950–1951 season, the Washington Capitols folded as well, bringing the number of teams in the league down to ten.[2]

Meanwhile, the National Professional Basketball League was formed around the former NBA teams, with teams added in new larger markets. The charter teams were the East Division: Sheboygan Redskins (Former NBA), Anderson Packers (Former NBA), Louisville Alumnites and Grand Rapids Hornets. West Division: Denver Refiners/Evansville Agogans, Saint Paul Lights, Kansas City Hi-Spots and Waterloo Hawks (Former NBA).[3]

The arena

[edit]

The Waterloo Hawks played at The Hippodrome. The arena is still in use today and is located at 250 Ansborough Ave, Waterloo, IA 50701.

When the NBA played in Waterloo the arena is often referred to as McElroy Auditorium. The confusion stems from an NBA publication from the 1960s which erroneously listed the current name of the arena and not its historical name.[4]

Season-by-season records

[edit]
NBL champions NBA champions Division champions Playoff berth
Season League Division Finish Wins Losses Win% GB Playoffs Awards
1948–49 NBL Western 4th 30 32 .484 6
1949–50 NBA Western 5th 19 43 .306 20
1950–51 NPBL Western 1st 32 24 .571 — —

Waterloo Hawks all-time coaches

[edit]

Waterloo Hawks all-time roster

[edit]
Player No. Position Years for Hawks School/club team
Harry Boykoff 13 Center 1949–50 St. John's
Don Boven 12 Forward 1949–50 Western Michigan
Paul Cloyd 12 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Wisconsin
Elmer Gainer 14 Forward/Center 1949–50 DePaul
Hoot Gibson 14 Forward/Center 1949–50 Creighton
Dale Hamilton 14 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Franklin College
Leo Kubiak 4 Guard 1949–50 Bowling Green
Dick Mehen 7 Forward/Center 1949–50 Tennessee
Ken Menke ?? Guard 1949–50 Illinois
Al Miksis 10 Center 1949–50 Western Illinois
Gene Ollrich 3 Guard 1949–50 Drake
Johnny Orr 9 Forward 1949–50 Beloit College
Stan Patrick 8 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Illinois
Johnny Payak 5 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Bowling Green
Jack Phelan 9 Forward 1949–50 DePaul
John Pritchard 11 Center 1949–50 Drake
Wayne See 6 Guard 1949–50 Northern Arizona
Charley Shipp 5 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Catholic
Jack Smiley 10 Guard/Forward 1949–50 Illinois
Gene Stump ?? Guard/Forward 1949–50 DePaul
Bob Tough 3 Guard/Forward 1949–50 St. John's

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Waterloo Hawks

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Waterloo Hawks were a professional franchise based in . Founded in 1947, the team competed in the Professional Basketball League of America during the 1947–48 season, posting a 1–5 record, before joining the National Basketball League (NBL) for 1948–49, where they finished with a 30–32 record and missed the playoffs. In 1949, the NBL merged with the (BAA) to form the (NBA), and the Hawks transitioned into the new league for its 1949–50 season—their only NBA campaign—compiling a 19–43 record while playing home games at The Hippodrome and averaging modest attendance in a small Midwestern market. The franchise holds the distinction of being the only team in NBA history to have been based in , marking a brief chapter in the state's professional sports legacy. The Hawks then played one final season in the National Professional Basketball League (NPBL) in 1950–51, finishing 32–24, before folding due to financial challenges. Notable players included guard Leo Kubiak, who was named fan-voted MVP for the 1949–50 season and led the team in assists, alongside centers like Harry Boykoff and forwards such as Stan Patrick and Dick Mehen, the team's scoring leader.

Franchise History

Founding and Early Challenges (1947–1948)

The Waterloo Hawks were established in 1947 as a franchise based in , owned by as part of an effort to introduce to the local community. White, who also founded the Professional Basketball League of America (PBLA), positioned the Hawks within this new regional circuit that spanned the Midwest and South, featuring 16 teams including the Chicago Gears, with plans for a 60-game schedule and two-year player contracts. However, the league's ambitious structure quickly unraveled due to organizational and financial hurdles. During the 1947–48 season, the Hawks played in the PBLA's Southern Division, compiling a record of 1 win and 5 losses over six games, which placed them seventh in the eight-team league standings with a .167 . The team averaged 51.3 points scored and 56.7 points allowed per game, reflecting their competitive struggles in the abbreviated schedule. Their initial roster drew from local and regional talent lacking prior NBA experience, including center Noble Jorgensen (6-9, from ), forward Price Brookfield (6-4), guard Otto Kerber (6-2), and others such as Dick Lynch and Jack Spehn, emphasizing community-based recruitment under general manager Andrew L. George and coach Harry "Swede" Roos. The Hawks encountered severe early challenges, marked by persistently low attendance and escalating operational expenses that mirrored the league's broader instability. These factors led to the PBLA's rapid collapse on November 13, 1947, after only 54 total games across its franchises, effectively ending the Hawks' inaugural season prematurely. In response to the folding, the franchise sought stability by joining the National Basketball League for the following year.

National Basketball League Era (1948–1949)

The Waterloo Hawks joined the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1948 as an expansion franchise, relocating from the folded Toledo Jeeps and establishing professional basketball in , amid the league's ongoing competition with the rival (BAA) for talent and fan interest. Promoter P.L. " secured the franchise after briefly holding rights in Des Moines, marking a shift from the failed Professional Basketball League of America (PBLA), where the team had operated as the Waterloo Pro-Hawks in 1947–48. This transition was bolstered by local ownership stability under George and community fundraising efforts, including share sales by Waterloo Basketball Inc., which helped cover initial losses and ensured the team's survival into its first full NBL campaign. In the 1948–49 season, the Hawks compiled a record of 30 wins and 32 losses, achieving a .484 winning percentage and finishing fourth in the Western Division, which prevented them from qualifying for the playoffs. The team emphasized a competitive, up-tempo style suited to the NBL's smaller Midwestern arenas, focusing on balanced scoring and solid defense that limited opponents to 59.2 points per game on average. Attendance averaged between 2,000 and 3,000 fans per game at the Cattle Congress Hippodrome, with strong community turnout—such as 2,521 for the home opener—reflecting local enthusiasm despite financial constraints typical of the era's regional professional sports. Key contributors included guard Leo Kubiak, acquired from the Jeeps, who appeared in all 62 games and averaged 7.5 points while providing steady backcourt play as a long-term team mainstay. Forwards Dick Mehen (13.6 points per game) and center Harry Boykoff (12.7 points) led the offense, with the Hawks securing notable victories like a 64–61 win over the Sheboygan Red Skins and a 51–48 triumph against the , where Kubiak scored 12 points. These performances helped build momentum toward the NBL-BAA merger that would form the NBA the following year.

NBA Transition and 1949–1950 Season

Following the merger of the National Basketball League (NBL) and the (BAA) in the summer of 1949, the Waterloo Hawks were absorbed into the newly formed (NBA) as one of its 17 inaugural teams. This positioned the Hawks as Iowa's sole major league professional sports franchise and highlighted Waterloo's status as one of the league's smallest markets, with a population of around 50,000 in a rural Midwestern setting. In their only NBA season, the 1949–50 campaign, the Hawks struggled to a record of 19 wins and 43 losses, achieving a and finishing last in the six-team Western Division, which precluded any playoff participation. The team averaged 79.4 while allowing 84.9, reflecting defensive vulnerabilities in a 14-team league that expanded to 17 before contracting. A mid-season coaching change exacerbated the difficulties: Charley Shipp, who had served as since joining from the NBL, was fired after an 8–27 start, with the veteran guard-forward contributing modestly on the court amid the turmoil. Jack Smiley replaced him and guided the squad to an 11–16 finish, but the Hawks could not overcome their early deficits. Standout performances provided occasional highlights, with forward Dick Mehen leading the team in scoring at 14.4 across all 62 contests, while center Harry Boykoff added 12.8 before departing mid-season. However, the roster faced persistent challenges, including injuries that limited key contributors like Boykoff and broader logistical strains from the league's expansive footprint, which created grueling travel schedules across two-thirds of the . NBA games in Waterloo generated significant local excitement, drawing crowds up to the Hippodrome's capacity of approximately 5,000 for marquee matchups, though average attendance hovered around 2,973 per game. Despite this enthusiasm, financial losses mounted, with revenues of about $93,000 falling short of $113,000 in expenses and contributing to ownership instability that foreshadowed the franchise's uncertain future.

Relocation and Franchise End

Following the disappointing 1949–50 NBA season, the Waterloo Hawks faced severe financial challenges that ultimately led to the end of their major league tenure. The team's revenue for the year totaled approximately $93,000, while operating expenses exceeded $113,000, resulting in a deficit of $1,500 after accounting for ; these figures were burdened by low gate receipts averaging $2,500 per home game and an inability to draw sufficient crowds in a small market of just over 64,000 residents. At the NBA owners' meeting on April 24–25, 1950, in Chicago's , the league required all franchises to post a $50,000 , a measure widely seen as targeting struggling small-market teams to reduce travel costs and stabilize finances amid widespread league-wide losses. The Hawks, unable to meet the bond without significant risk, withdrew alongside the Sheboygan Red Skins and , contracting the NBA from 17 to 11 teams; this decision came despite the franchise's offers to secure the bond through local efforts that had previously raised over $37,000 in stock sales from 377 shareholders. The withdrawal sparked community disappointment in Waterloo, where residents had rallied behind the team as a symbol of local pride, but failed bids by new investor groups to retain the franchise underscored the economic barriers for cities in the post-merger NBA. The final home game occurred on March 15, 1950, an 87–69 win over the Sheboygan Red Skins at McElroy Auditorium, attended by a modest crowd reflective of the season's struggles. In the aftermath, the Hawks' remaining players were dispersed to other NBA squads, with the first overall draft pick , selected by the , instead signing with the Waterloo Hawks for their 1950–51 season in the National Professional Basketball League (NPBL), a short-lived rival to the NBA, before joining the Bullets for the . Following the withdrawal, the franchise joined the newly formed National Professional Basketball League (NPBL) for the 1950–51 season, compiling a 32–28 record before folding permanently in 1951 due to ongoing financial difficulties. This episode exemplified the early NBA's shift away from small markets, prioritizing larger urban centers to boost attendance and viability, which facilitated subsequent expansions into cities like and while eliminating operations in places like Waterloo.

Home Arena

McElroy Auditorium (The )

The , originally constructed in 1919 on the grounds of the National Dairy Cattle Congress in , served primarily as a venue for equestrian and events, reflecting the agricultural focus of the fairgrounds at the time. Built as an indoor arena to accommodate shows and exhibitions, it quickly became a hub for regional entertainment tied to the Cattle Congress's mission of promoting and farming. In 1936, the facility underwent a major renovation that raised the roof, excavated the floor for expanded seating, and transformed it into a multi-purpose venue, including the installation of a to support diverse events. This upgrade increased its capacity to approximately 5,200 permanent seats, with the arena floor measuring 20,000 square feet (200 feet by 100 feet) and featuring a central setup suitable for sports and performances. The venue was renamed McElroy Auditorium around in honor of R.J. McElroy, a prominent Waterloo broadcaster and philanthropist who died that year. Prior to hosting professional basketball, the arena was Waterloo's premier indoor facility in the 1940s, regularly featuring circuses, concerts, rodeos, and matches that drew crowds from across . Its versatile design, including box seating and concession areas, made it a staple for community and touring entertainment. In 2018, the name reverted to to restore its original identity, and today it continues to host various events but no longer accommodates basketball games.

Facilities and Team Usage

The (later renamed McElroy Auditorium) served as the primary home venue for the Waterloo Hawks, featuring a standard measuring 94 feet by 50 feet overlaid on its multi-purpose floor designed for events like livestock shows and concerts. Temporary seating was added around the to accommodate basketball crowds, expanding the arena's capacity to approximately 5,155 spectators, though the setup often limited sightlines for some fans due to the venue's original construction on the grounds of the National Dairy Cattle Congress in 1919. Operational logistics for the Hawks were constrained by the small-market environment, with practices primarily held in the arena's facilities, leaving little room for dedicated spaces. Travel to away games posed significant challenges, as the team relied on bus transportation for trips to distant cities such as and , a common practice for Midwest NBA squads in the league's inaugural 1949–50 season that added to fatigue and scheduling difficulties. The fan experience at the emphasized community engagement in a modest setting, with average home attendance of 2,973 during the NBA season, including a turnout of 3,695 for the Hawks' debut against the on November 2, 1949, and 2,521 for a December 31 matchup versus the Lakers. Game-day offerings focused on local concessions like hot dogs and popcorn, fostering an intimate atmosphere despite the arena's basic amenities, such as pre-game player introductions that drew enthusiastic local support. Adaptations for professional basketball were minimal but necessary. Compared to larger venues like , which boasted 18,000 seats and financial backing from major corporations, the Hippodrome's smaller scale and limited revenue—totaling over $93,000 for the season—highlighted the competitive disadvantages faced by small-market teams like the Hawks, contributing to their financial struggles and eventual exit from the NBA after one season.

Records and Statistics

Season-by-Season Results

The Waterloo Hawks began their professional tenure in the short-lived Professional Basketball League of America (PBLA) during the 1947–48 season, competing in a seven-team league that folded after one year due to financial instability and lack of fan interest. The team, initially known as the Waterloo Pro-Hawks, managed a dismal 1–5 record (.167 ), placing 7th overall and failing to qualify for in a league without a postseason structure. This brief stint highlighted early organizational challenges in a minor league experimenting with professional play in the Midwest. Transitioning to the established National Basketball League (NBL) for the 1948–49 season, the Hawks aligned in the Western Division alongside teams like the Oshkosh All-Stars and Tri-Cities Blackhawks. They posted a 30–32 record (.484), finishing 4th in the division and missing the , which were contested among the top teams from each division. The NBL's competitive balance provided a step up, though the Hawks struggled with consistency in a 62-game schedule. The 1949–50 season marked the Hawks' entry into the newly formed (NBA) following the merger of the NBL and (BAA), expanding the league to 17 teams and introducing a more rigorous schedule. Assigned to the Western Division with six teams, including the dominant Minneapolis Lakers, the Hawks recorded 19–43 (.306) over 62 games, placing 5th (last among competitive teams, ahead only of the expansion ) and again missing the playoffs. League-wide contraction pressures post-merger, including financial strains on smaller-market teams, contributed to the franchise's relocation to the National Professional Basketball League (NPBL) after this season, though their NBA run ended here. Across their three seasons in three distinct leagues—PBLA, NBL, and NBA—the Hawks compiled an overall franchise record of 50–80 (.385), a unique distinction in history as one of the few teams to compete consecutively in such varied professional circuits amid evolving league structures.
SeasonLeagueDivisionW-L RecordWin %StandingPlayoffs
1947–48PBLAN/A1–5.1677thNo
1948–49NBLWestern30–32.4844thNo
1949–50NBAWestern19–43.3065thNo

All-Time Leaders and Team Milestones

The Waterloo Hawks' brief history in the National Basketball League (NBL) and (NBA) featured limited statistical depth due to the era's lower scoring and incomplete records, particularly for rebounds and assists in the NBL. Dick Mehen stands as the franchise's all-time leading scorer, accumulating 841 points in 62 games during the 1948–49 NBL season at 13.6 (PPG) and adding 892 points in 62 games during the 1949–50 NBA season at 14.4 PPG, for a combined total of 1,733 points. Harry Boykoff ranked second overall, with 777 points at 12.7 PPG in the NBL season and 779 points at 12.8 PPG in the NBA season, totaling 1,556 points. In rebounding, available NBA records highlight Mehen's dominance with 826 total rebounds over 62 games, averaging approximately 13.3 rebounds per game (RPG), while NBL data is sparse but suggests similar contributions from centers like Boykoff. For assists, Leo Kubiak holds the franchise lead with 201 total assists in the at 3.2 assists per game (APG), outpacing others in the single NBA campaign; his NBL contributions with the Waterloo Hawks do not add significantly to totals due to incomplete tracking. Key team milestones reflect the Hawks' competitive struggles in a low-scoring 1940s landscape, where franchise averages hovered around 58.9 PPG in the NBL and 79.4 PPG in the NBA. The highest single-game total came in a 104–83 home win on January 25, 1950, during the NBA season. Conversely, the worst defeat was a 38-point loss, 69–107, to the Olympians on January 24, 1950, with multiple 20-plus-point margins occurring amid 43 losses that year. The franchise scored approximately 8,575 total points across 124 games (3,652 in the NBL and 4,923 in the NBA). The Hawks earned no league championships or playoff berths in their two seasons, though Dick Mehen received All-NBL First Team honors in 1948–49.

Personnel

Head Coaches

The Waterloo Hawks' coaching history began in the Professional Basketball League of America (PBLA) during the 1947–48 season, when Harry Roos served as for the short-lived Waterloo Pro-Hawks franchise, compiling a 1–5 record and finishing seventh in the North Division. Charley Shipp assumed the role of starting in the 1948–49 National Basketball League (NBL) season, leading the Hawks to a 30–32 record and a fourth-place finish in the Western Division. A five-time first-team NBL during his playing career with the Oshkosh All-Stars from 1937 to 1947, Shipp emphasized leveraging veteran talent to stabilize the young franchise during its transition to professional basketball. Shipp continued as player-coach into the 1949–50 NBA season following the NBL-BAA merger, but the team struggled with an 8–27 start, prompting his mid-season dismissal in mid-January 1950. After leaving the Hawks, Shipp transitioned to , serving as an assistant coach at under Ray Eddy from 1952 to 1962. Jack replaced Shipp as interim player-coach for the remainder of the 1949–50 NBA season, posting an 11–16 record as the Hawks finished 19–43 overall and fifth in the Western Division. , who had prior NBL playing experience with the Sheboygan Red Skins from 1946 to 1948, averaging approximately 7.1 , brought familiarity with league-level competition to the role. Smiley remained as head coach for the Hawks' final season in the National Professional Basketball League (NPBL) in 1950–51, guiding the team to a 32–24 record and first place in the West Division before the franchise relocated and folded. Across all leagues, the Hawks' coaches achieved a combined of .441 over 186 games, underscoring the transitional challenges of the era.

Notable Players and Roster Highlights

The Waterloo Hawks' rosters during their NBL and NBA tenure featured a blend of league veterans and newcomers, with over 20 players suiting up across the franchise's three active seasons from 1948 to 1951. The 1949–50 NBA roster alone included 21 players, comprising 17 rookies and just four with prior professional experience, reflecting the team's reliance on emerging talent amid financial constraints and competitive pressures. This mix yielded no superstar names but produced reliable mid-tier contributors, such as Hoot Gibson, who averaged 5.5 points across 32 games in 1949–50 while providing versatile frontcourt depth. Other contributors included center Harry Boykoff and forward Dick Mehen, who provided key frontcourt presence. Johnny Orr, a 6-foot-3 guard/forward and NBA rookie out of the University of Illinois, joined the Hawks midseason in 1949–50 after a brief stint with the , appearing in 13 games and averaging 4.0 points, 1.1 assists, and a .324 . His scoring output included a career-high 12 points on March 8, 1950, against the . Orr transitioned to coaching shortly after, leading programs at (1957–1969), the (1976–1980), and the (1980–1986), where he compiled 466 wins and earned recognition as a prominent figure in . Center , selected first overall by the in the out of , instead signed with the Hawks for their 1950–51 campaign in the short-lived National Professional Basketball League (NPBL), playing 19 games and scoring 62 points for an average of 3.3 points per contest. Standing at 6-foot-11, Share brought rebounding prowess to the frontcourt, later establishing himself as a defensive anchor in the NBA with the Fort Wayne Pistons and others, where he averaged 8.4 rebounds over nine seasons. Guard Gene Stump, a 6-foot-2 DePaul product with prior BAA experience alongside the Boston Celtics and Minneapolis Lakers, provided backcourt stability for the 1949–50 Hawks in 26 games, averaging 3.9 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists while shooting .750 from the free-throw line. His tenure highlighted the team's emphasis on multi-positional guards capable of contributing on both ends. Leo Kubiak exemplified the Hawks' core continuity as the franchise's longevity leader, suiting up for all three seasons—including the 1948–49 NBL campaign and the full 1949–50 NBA schedule—while logging 62 games that year alone as a 5-foot-11 guard. Kubiak averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 assists (ranking 16th league-wide), and an .814 free-throw percentage, establishing himself as the all-time franchise assists leader with 201. Fans recognized his all-around play by voting him the team's MVP for 1949–50.

Legacy and Impact

Contributions to Iowa Basketball

The Waterloo Hawks, as Iowa's sole representative in the National Basketball Association during its inaugural 1949–50 season, played a pioneering role in introducing professional to the state, elevating local interest in the sport amid the merger of the National Basketball League and . By competing against established franchises like the —whom they defeated in their second game—and hosting NBA President at the , the team exposed rural Iowans to high-level play, fostering a sense of state pride in a small-market setting previously dominated by college and amateur hoops. This visibility helped bridge the gap between local basketball culture and the emerging professional era, with average home attendance reaching 2,973 fans per game, including peaks over 3,900 for marquee matchups. Economically, the Hawks generated over $93,000 in through ticket sales, merchandise, and community-driven stock drives that enabled fan ownership, though expenses topped $113,000, resulting in a modest $1,500 deficit at season's end. These efforts not only sustained operations in a challenging rural but also spurred partnerships with local businesses for promotions and , injecting vitality into Waterloo's commerce during the postwar boom. The team's presence addressed skepticism toward in Iowa's agricultural heartland, where small crowds and travel hardships were common; by meeting the NBA's $50,000 requirement, the Hawks demonstrated viability, setting a for minor professional ventures in the state. Culturally, the Hawks marked a milestone as the first major-league sports entity for many , with media coverage extending beyond local outlets like the Waterloo Courier to wires, amplifying stories of underdog triumphs and elevating 's profile statewide. This exposure inspired budding enthusiasm among youth, as evidenced by the showcasing of local talents like Johnny Payak, who scored 19 points in a key game, and persisted into modern commemorations, such as the 2024 youth camp honoring the team's 75th anniversary, proclaimed "Waterloo Hawks Day" by the mayor. Long-term, their tenure influenced the relocation of minor-league operations to Iowa in the early 1950s, paving the way for sustained community leagues and reinforcing 's role in state identity despite the team's eventual fold after the 1950–51 season in the National Professional Basketball League.

Alumni Achievements and Cultural Significance

Several alumni of the Waterloo Hawks achieved notable success in professional basketball and coaching after their time with the team. Johnny Orr, who played guard for the Hawks during their , transitioned to a distinguished coaching career, leading the Wolverines from 1969 to 1980 and the from 1980 to 1994, where he compiled a 466–346 record and earned induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001. , the first overall pick in the by the , opted instead to join the Hawks' successor franchise in the rival National Professional Basketball League for the 1950–51 season before entering the NBA; he went on to a 10-year career (1951–1960) across four teams—the Fort Wayne Pistons, Milwaukee Hawks, St. Louis Hawks, and Minneapolis Lakers—averaging 8.3 points and 8.4 rebounds per game while contributing to the St. Louis Hawks' 1958 NBA Championship. Other players extended their careers in professional leagues beyond the major circuits. Gene Stump, a forward-guard who appeared in 16 games for the Hawks in 1949–50, had a three-year stint in the BAA/NBA with the and Lakers prior to Waterloo, totaling 148 games and 5.3 points per game across his professional tenure. Leo Kubiak, the Hawks' starting guard in 1949–50, continued playing professionally with the Denver Refiners of the National Professional Basketball League in 1950–51. The Waterloo Hawks hold a unique place in basketball history as one of the few franchises to compete in three different professional leagues over three consecutive seasons: the National Basketball League in 1948–49, the NBA in 1949–50, and the short-lived National Professional Basketball League in 1950–51. Operating in —a city with a population of approximately 65,000 at the time—the team represented one of the smallest markets in NBA history during its single season in the league, preceding the expansions of the 1960s that brought teams to cities like and . The Hawks' legacy endures in Iowa sports narratives as the state's sole NBA representative, symbolizing the brief but fervent entry of Midwest small-town America into major professional ; this is chronicled in Tim Harwood's 2023 book Ball Hawks: The Arrival and Departure of the NBA in , which highlights fan-driven efforts to sustain the team amid financial challenges. In 2024, marking the 75th anniversary of the team's founding, local media outlets produced retrospectives, including a KWWL television segment titled "NBA's Waterloo Hawks Remembered 75 Years Later," which aired in December and explored the franchise's inaugural-era contributions. While the Hawks share no direct organizational ties to the modern —originally the Tri-Cities Blackhawks from 1949–51—or the contemporary Waterloo Black Hawks junior ice hockey team founded in 1962, their name evokes the shared symbolism of Chief Black Hawk and underscores the deep roots of competitive in Iowa's Midwest heritage.

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  43. https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/coaches/johnny-orr-1.html
  44. https://probasketballencyclopedia.com/player/chuck-share/
  45. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/stumpge01.html
  46. https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/k/kubiale01.html
  47. https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/WAT/leaders_season.html
  48. https://www.denvergazette.com/2025/02/04/leo-kubiak-nbas-second-oldest-living-former-player-and-ex-denver-refiners-star-is-alive-and-well-at-98-29a46b7e-dc7f-11ef-9002-97783f1f7fae/
  49. https://cyclones.com/sports/2015/3/2/GEN_2014010133
  50. http://peachbasketsociety.blogspot.com/2016/07/leo-kubiak.html
  51. https://www.iowadatacenter.org/tables/Population/1900-2000/plpopulation18502000.pdf
  52. https://www.iowapublicradio.org/podcast/talk-of-iowa/2024-03-06/ball-hawks-iowas-nba-team-in-the-leagues-first-season
  53. https://uipress.uiowa.edu/books/ball-hawks
  54. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqGaEq-fzRs
  55. https://waterlooblackhawks.com/sports/2022/8/15/about-the-hawks.aspx
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