JOHN RUDOMETKIN

[Jeannieb43]

JOHN RUDOMETKIN has died.   He was a famous basketball player in Los Angeles in the '70s.   I believe he was also an Adventist all that time.  When my family and I went to church in 2004 near Weimar, California, we saw him.   He taught the Sabbath school class we attended.   And the L.A.Times obituary today said he died in the town of Newcastle, California (which is a suburb of Auburn), of chronic pulmonary disease.

There was a book written about John Rudometkin entitled "RUDY THE RECKLESS RUSSIAN," telling of his basketball accomplishments.   My son, an aspiring basketball player, read that book from cover to cover when he was a teenager. 

[Kevin H]

I remember the book. Sad to hear of his death.

[phkrause]

Sorry to hear this. I don't recall the book, but the name is familiar?

[Jeannieb43]

The latest AdventistToday online has a good article about Rudometkin.   It says he accomplished more in basketball than any other Adventist has ever done.   He was an Adventist all his life, and was very much loved in basketball in the '60s and '70s.

[Kevin H]

There is another Adventist who was a basketball and baseball star. He is still alive; Gene Conley. I was never a big sports fan but as I child I remember reading "Rudo the Reckless Russian". I believe that Gene became a Seventh-day Adventist after he retired.