Biography:Widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, Bill Russell was five-times NBA Most Valuable Player. He was central to the Celtics winning 11 NBA championships and captained the American team to the an Olympic gold medal in 1956.
In 1966 he was the first black player-coach of a major NBA team and the first to win a championship in 1968 and 1969. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1975 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2011.
Born: February 12, 1934 Birthplace:West Monroe, Louisiana, USA
1956-12-09 NBA player Bill Russell (22) weds college sweetheart Rose Swisher; divorce in 1973
1977-06-08 Retired NBA player Bill Russell (43) weds 1968 Miss USA Dorothy Anstett (39); divorced 1980
Historical Events
1955-03-19 17th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: San Francisco beats La Salle, 77-63; Dons' future Hall of Fame center Bill Russell is named tournament Most Outstanding Player
1956-12-01 Led by future Basketball Hall of Famers Bill Russell and K.C. Jones, the US wins it's 4th consecutive Olympic gold medal with an 89-55 victory over the Soviet Union at the Melbourne Games
1957-11-16 Boson Celtics' center Bill Russell sets NBA record of 49 rebounds as Boston beats Philadelphia Warriors, 111-89 at Boston Gardens
1958-02-12 Boston Celtic Bill Russell grabs 41 rebounds to beat Syracuse Nationals, 119-101
1960-02-08 Boston Celtic Bill Russell becomes 1st NBAer with 50 rebounds (51)
1961-02-12 Boston Celtic Bill Russell grabs 40 rebounds to beat Philadelphia Warriors, 136-125
1963-01-16 13th NBA All-Star Game, LA Memorial Sports Arena: East beats West, 115-108; MVP: Bill Russell, Boston Celtics, C
1965-01-23 Boston Celtics' center Bill Russell misses all 14 shots in 104-100 loss to Philadelphia 76ers, led by newly acquired Wilt Chamberlain
1966-04-18 Bill Russell becomes first African American coach in NBA history (Boston Celtics)
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