Marcus Ross Freiberger

MARCUS ROSS FREIBERGER, age 76, of Winston-Salem, NC, passed away June 29, 2005, at 5:53 pm at the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, Winston-Salem, NC. Born in Amarillo, TX, November 27, 1928. He was the son of the late Varina Shields and Marcus Louis Freiberger. He was retired from Lester Engineering Company of Cleveland, Ohio. He was a basketball star in high school in Greenville, Texas and then played at the University of Oklahoma where he was an NCAA All-Midwest team in 1951, and also part of the East-West All Star team. In 1951. He was chosen third in the first round of the NBA draft however he chose to play for the NIBL. He was selected as a member of the US Olympic Basketball team while playing for the AAU Caterpillar Tractor Company of Peoria, IL of the NIBL and won an Olympic Gold Medal playing for the United States Team in 1952 Helsinki, Finland games. He continued to play in the NIBL with the Ada Oil Company of Houston, TX from 1954-1955 where he was selected as an All-Star. He was later inducted into the Texas Basketball Hall of Fame and the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Shirley Weinman Freiberger. For most of their married life from 1961 to 2000, they resided in St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Freiberger is survived by a son, Ronald E. (Lou) Freiberger of Winston-Salem, NC, daughter Nancy J. (Scott) Smythe of Mission Park, KS, and son James M. (Tere Hinkley) Freiberger of Mocksville, NC, and a sister Marvel Gwendolyn Holman of Garland, TX, and five grandchildren; Lyndsey Freiberger, Sam Smythe, Lily Smythe, Lucy Freiberger, and George Freiberger. In addition to his parents, 3 brothers, Louis Dale, Perry John, and Alvin Ira Freiberger preceded Marcus in death. A memorial service for Mr. Freiberger will be conducted on Friday, August 5, at 10:00 a.m. at the Arbor Acres Fellowship Hall, Berrier Building, 1240 Arbor Rd., Winston-Salem, NC. Memorials may be made to the Kate B. Reynolds Hospice Home, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103, or to any other local Hospice & Palliative Carecenter. Becker and Son Funeral Home, 221 South Poplar St., Mt. Olive, IL 62069 is in charge of arrangements.