General Arnold Lee
Short
Male
United States of America
1932-10-03
Weatherford, Custer County, Oklahoma, United States of America
2014-09-26
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States of America


About

Arnold Short grew up in Weatherford, Oklahoma, where he lettered in football, baseball and basketball. He entered his first tennis tournament the summer of his senior year in high school after being introduced to the sport by the band director at Southwestern State University.

Arnold attended Oklahoma City University on a basketball scholarship, where he played basketball, baseball, and tennis. He was the first in a long line of sweet shooting, high scoring players who lifted OCU into national basketball prominence. Short would become a cornerstone for a basketball heritage as rich in tradition and pride as any in the country. In 1951 he was named MVP of the All College Basketball Tournament after scoring 70 points in three games. He also set an NCAA record for free throws made. In 1953 he became OCU's first All American, a feat he also achieved in 1954. Arnold was the 13th overall pick in the 1954 NBA draft by the Fort Wayne Pistons, but chose to play for the Phillips 66er's in the National Industrial Basketball League.

He continued to play tennis in the summers and was once ranked number one in the Missouri Valley in Men's 35 singles and fifth in doubles. In 1970 he became OCU's head tennis coach and in 1975 he was hired as manager and head professional at the Oklahoma City Tennis Center. He was named by The Oklahoman as one of the top 100 athletes in Oklahoma history.

Arnold Short was inducted into the the OCU Athletics Hall of Fame in 1971 and the Jim Thorpe Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. He recently placed 5th in the Senior Olympics in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Arnold passed away September 26, 2014.


Arnold Lee Short graduated to glory Friday, September 26, peacefully, while at home in Oklahoma City, at the age of 81. His wife, Cecille Phillips Short; and daughters, Melinda Clonts and Lisa Carlile; were at his side. Arnold was born October 3, 1932, in Weatherford, Oklahoma, to mother, Nora Ellen Short, and father, Cecil Allen Short. Arnold was a well-known Oklahoma athlete, named by The Oklahoman as one of the top 100 athletes in Oklahoma history. He was a three-sport athlete at Oklahoma City University, where he played basketball, tennis and baseball. Excelling in basketball, he was selected as an NCAA All-American his senior year in 1954. He became the 13th overall draft pick by the Fort Wayne (Detroit) Pistons. However, the 6'3" guard opted to play in the AAU Industrial League for the Phillips 66ers. With the 66ers, he was again selected as an AAU All-American and twice voted First Team All-Star. He made the 1956 U.S. Olympic Basketball Team but unfortunately became injured before leaving for Australia and his roster spot had to be replaced. He did get to travel with the team and take his mother along, which was one of his best memories in athletics. He completed a short stint as an officer in the U.S. Army, where he played for the Army baseball and basketball teams, twice being named All-Army in the latter. In 2001, he was selected to enter the Jim Thorpe Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame. After basketball, Arnold went on to coach men's basketball, men's and women's tennis, and served five years as the Athletic Director for Oklahoma City University. His tennis teams were typically ranked in the NCAA top 25. He like to enter USTA tournaments with his players. He was a multiple-USTA Oklahoma District State Champion and in 2010, selected to the USTA Oklahoma District Tennis Hall of Fame. His greatest joy came later in life, serving his Lord and Savior as an ordained pastor in the Methodist church. He served 15 before retiring in 1998. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Cecille; daughters, Lisa (Jerry) Carlile and Melinda (Allen) Clonts. He has five grandchildren, Brittany, Lauren, Reese Carlile, along with Alexis and Davey Clonts; and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 30, 2014, at Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Oklahoma City.

Published in The Oklahoman on Sept. 28, 2014



Media


Archive statistics 1895 - 1969
0
16
5


Tournaments Heart of America - 1969 Oklahoma State - 1963 Norman Rotary - 1963 Missouri Valley Championships - 1961 Shawnee Open - 1961 Oklahoma State - 1959 Mid-Continent - 1959 Shawnee Open - 1956 Greater Oklahoma City Closed - 1955 Edgbaston - 1896 Edgbaston - 1895

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