Sigma Alpha Epsilon - Purdue University

Page 4 The official collegiate basketball record book of 1962 features Terry Dischinger '62 as a senior at Purdue. A s one of the all-time great student-athletes in Purdue history, Terry Dischinger '62 spent hours on end in Lambert Fieldhouse becoming the best basketball player he could be. While Terry's accolades on the court only scratch the surface in describing the caliber of player he was, he also took great pride in his studies. Terry balanced his hours off the court by studying in the quarters of the attic of the Indiana Beta chapter house. "I was a chemical engineering student and also an athlete," Terry said. "I needed to study each night to get through the way I wanted. It worked out really well." Terry is thankful for a brotherhood like Sigma Alpha Epsilon that not only made him feel at home but supported his dreams. From setting scor- ing records at Purdue, being named the 1962-63 NBA Rookie of the Year, making three NBA All-Star teams, and playing on the 1960 Olympic gold medal team, Terry gave his SAE brothers a lot to be proud of. At the age of 78, Terry's basketball career is still being recognized. He will be inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame on November 24 in Kansas City, Missouri. While Terry has been told by many former teammates, friends, and family members that the hall of fame induction is long overdue, the timing doesn't make much of a difference to him. He has relived a lot of great Purdue basketball memories since learning in April that he would be inducted along with Calbert Cheaney, Shane Battier, Ernie DiGregorio, Larry Johnson, and Todd Lichti and former coaches Homer Drew, Lute Olson, and Rick Majerus (posthumously). "You find out that you still have a lot of friends," Terry said. "It's really been neat for me during this time with this happening." At Purdue, Terry ranks sixth all-time in scoring (1,979 points) and second in rebounds (954). He was named to the all-Big Ten team three times and earned All-American honors in each of his three varsity seasons. Terry loved playing for Purdue and is still a proud supporter of Boilermaker athletics, but the highlight of his college career didn't involve him wear- ing a PU jersey. At the age of 19, Terry was the youngest player to ever suit up for the United States in the Olympics. Playing alongside the likes of Jerry West, Jerry Lucas, and his hero, Oscar Robertson, was a dream come true. "It was an unreal situation because Oscar Robertson was my hero and he turned out to be my roommate. It's just beyond me and I think it's beyond most people when they are there and are watching our team winning and beating everybody by a big margin," Terry said. "The thing about it when you're in the Olympics, you're not playing for Purdue or anything like that. You're playing for the United States of America. When you finally win and you're on the podium and they put the medal around your neck, it's hard to hold the tears in." Sports remain a big part of Terry's life with golf being his favorite hobby. Terry also loves traveling internationally with his wife, Mary, whom he married the day before they graduated from Purdue. You can connect with Terry at tmdisch@comcast.net. Indiana Beta's Basketball Legend Terry Dischinger '62 nameD To 2019 naTional collegiaTe BaskeTBall hall of fame class

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