6-3, 180, Guard-Forward, Winston-Salem, N.C. Atkins H.S.

1968-69 Final Four and Big Ten Champs

One of the most electrifying players in Boilermaker basketball history, Herman Gilliam had all the moves. His speed energized the Purdue fastbreak which allowed the Boilermakers to lead the nation in scoring in 1968-69. An undersized forward, his career 9.1 rebound average was amazing. Gilliam trails only two Boilermakers in the past 25 years, Glenn Robinson and Joe Barry Carroll, in rebound average. Gilliam enjoyed a distinguished NBA career and culminated his playing days by being part of the 1977 NBA champion Portland Trailblazers. He and Jerry Sichting ('86 Celtics) are the only Boilermakers to play on NBA title teams in the last 40 years.

He lived in the Portland, Ore., area. He worked for United Parcel Service (UPS) for the past 15 years, with the last six years in public affairs and consumer relations. The date of our interview was his first as the operations center manager for the Corvallis, Ore., UPS plant which is about 80 miles from Portland. Gilliam planned to remain in the Portland area, but he owned an RV and considered living in it on weekdays as he began his new job. His oldest son is in his medical residency in Detroit and youngest is teaching and coaching in high school.

The following are excerpts from a March 4, 2004 interview:

"At UPS, we try to do what it takes for the customer pretty much at all costs. The good teams that I played on have those qualities as well. In business and in team play, if the chemistry is good among the people working together, there is a chance for success."

"Playing with Bill Walton was a unique experience. (It was) kind of like my senior year at Purdue, I was the oldest guy on the Blazers at age 30. Both teams had a sixth sense about each other and both had a roster full of guys that gave up something in order to win. Championship teams do that."

"It was a shock for me my first couple years at Purdue. I grew up watching guys like Earl Monroe. When I came to Purdue, I was different from anyone else on campus. I mean, we had several high school stars on that freshman team (Billy Keller, Rick Snider, Gary Bancroft, Ted Reasoner and Ralph Taylor) but I was coming from a very different place (the segregated South) than them.

"I was messing around one day in practice, which I was known to do in my early days at Purdue, and trying to dunk two basketballs at a time. I was able to do it, but I remember Coach Bob (King) telling me I traveled as I did it. I laughed out loud when he said that, but I think Coach Bob was serious.

"Coach Bob had such an influence on me. Coming to Purdue took some time for me to get used to. The university was so big and was integrated (racially) unlike the segregated south where I came from. I remember early on that I missed a couple of classes and Coach Bob called me on the carpet. He was the mother hen of our team and he asked me 'why did you miss class?' I told him it was too cold up here and I was ready to go home. Coach Bob worked all angles, including my mother (Doris, who still lives in Winston-Salem) who had developed a fondness for Coach Bob and his wife Nancy. They talked me into saying at Purdue.

It was so strange here. The garbage men were white. The maids in my dorm room were white. I had not seen that growing up.

"The other thing I had to adjust to was the idea of the clean-cut athlete. It was a team rule that you could not have facial hair. I almost left because of that but once again Coach Bob called my mom and she eventually talked me into staying."

"I still remember the sounds of the gymnasium when Billy (Keller) Moe (Ralph Taylor) and I went down to see Rick (Mount) play in high school. I had never seen anything like it and never seen anyone shoot like him.

"I came from a high school that preached team play and I remember Coach (George) King calling me and Billy into his office to tell us we would not be the primary option. I think we just wanted to win no matter what. Rick could shoot, Billy could handle the ball, and I could rebound, score when I needed to, and run. That and having (Chuck) Bavis and (George) Faerber on the boards really made us a complete team."

"The only time I thought about my (potential) pro career was when I was injured (Achilles heel) late in the season. I remember only being able to go half speed in the (NCAA Mideast Regional Finals) Marquette game and for the first time I thought that might have an effect on my pro career.

"One thing I know to this day is had we been at full strength when we played UCLA for the title. (Gilliam and Keller were severely hampered with injuries, but played; Bavis was out due to a separated shoulder) we could have beaten them. I believe that with everything I am."

"I have not done a good job in staying in touch with many of the guys. I haven't been back to Purdue since our 20-year reunion back in 1989. But I remember those days fondly and the great teammates I had. I hope to come back for Homecoming this year and see some of the guys."

"We are all deeply saddened by Herman's passing. He was such a talented player and so full of life. The sacrifices he made for the betterment of our team were the reason we were able to make it to the Final Four (in 1969).

"He reminded me of Jerry West as a player. He had that kind of ability. He wasn't as good a shooter as Jerry, but he could get to the basket and handle the ball like him.

"He would do something on the court every three of four games that would leave your head shaking in amazement. I used to tell folks that I had the privilege of seeming him do that in practice three or four times a day."

"It was crushing for me to hear of Herman's passing. When I received the voice mail I listed to it about four times and I still can't believe it is true.

"Herman was way ahead of his time as a player. He was athletic in a time when basketball was all about fundamentals. He could do things that few guys could do. Herman could fly and that is pretty amazing for a guy that was just 6-foot-2.

"He was really our best player. That is no slight on Rick (Mount) or anyone else on our team, but his athletic ability and quickness made him very, very special. He was just different from anyone else I played with at the college level.

"Thinking of him always brought a smile to my face. His loss his devastating to me personally. I will dearly miss Herman Gilliam".

"Herman could have been a star in his own right. He was rare in terms of his talent.

"His idol was (NBA Hall of Famer) Elgin Baylor. That is how he played, though he was just 6-foot-3.

"Long-time fans will recall in Herman's sophomore year the dunk was still legal and you could do it in warmups. We always ended our pregame warmups with a tip drill and Herman always drove it home to finish it.

"We had bigger guys than Herman, that is for sure. But none could finish in such spectacular fashion."

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