Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 9, 1995 TAG: 9501120050
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: SAN FRANCISCO LENGTH: Short
Ruben Bolen, 61, who spent a year and a half with the razzle-dazzle basketball team in the 1950s, was found Dec. 29. At his funeral Thursday, ministers from 10 San Francisco churches and a nun each claimed him as a member of their congregations.
Bolen was born and raised in Grambling, La., where he was an all-state high school basketball star. He had a bachelor's degree and a spotless Army record.
He toured with the Globetrotters and, although only 5-foot-11, he was a flashy ball handler who had one of the sweetest moves to the basket in the pre-Michael Jordan era. He Bolen was cut from the team in late 1959. Sometime in the late '60s, he left his job and turned to alcohol. He dropped out of sight and when he resurfaced a few years later, many were shocked.
``We don't know why he wanted to live on the streets, but that's where he wanted to be,'' said his sister, Frozena Bolen-Myers. ``Ruben always did what he wanted to do and I think he felt closer to God'' on the streets.
Police have no suspects in his slaying.
- Associated Press
Keywords:
FATALITY
by CNB