Biography Dr. Jamesa Naismitha
Biography Dr. Jamesa Naismitha
High School:
-Almonte High School (1875-77, 1881-83)
College:
-McGill University in Montreal, philosophy degree , graduated in 1887
-Presbyterian College in Montreal, religion degree , graduated in 1890
-YMCA Training School in Springfield, MA, physical education degree,
graduated in 1891
-Gross Medical School at the University of Colorado, medical degree,
graduated in 1898
Awards and achievements:
-Silver Wickstead Medal for Best Athlete, McGill University (1885)
-Gold Wickstead Medal for Best Athlete, McGill University (1887)
-Silver medal for his work in the area of theology, Presbyterian College
(1890)
Military service:
-Chaplain and captain, First Kansas Infantry (1914-17)
-First Kansas Infantry, Mexican border (1916)
-YMCA secretary (in France: 19 months, U.S.: 3 months) (1917-19)
Career Highlights:
-Invented the game of basketball. The original name of the game has survived
unchanged up to this day .
-Developed basketball's original 13 rules
-As the game grew in popularity, he did not use it for self-promotion
-Author of numerous articles and books
-In 1941, posthumously elected to the American Academy of Physical Education
-Physical education director at the McGill University, 1887-90
-Physical education instructor, at Springfield College, 1890-95
-Physical education director, Denver YMCA (1895-98)
-Associate professor and chapel director, at the University of Kansas,
1898-1909
-Professor and university physician, University of Kansas (1909-17)
-Received master of physical education in 1910
-Was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1915
-Physical education professor (1917-37)
-Received Doctor of Divinity degree, McGill University in 1939
Biography:
The Basketball game started with 18 boys playing it in Springfield, Mass.
Many years later, it grew into a game that is played by more than 300 million
people worldwide. The man who created this successful sport was Dr. James
Naismith. His "invention" was created under orders from Dr. Luther Gulick, his
superior at the school he was working at that time. Dr. Naismith was given 14
days to create a new indoor game for students to keep them in shape during long
freezing winter days. That didn't come easily. During his work he didn't see any
interest on the part of the students he was working with. Dr. Naismith wanted to
bring outdoor games indoors. These oudor games proved to be too physical
demanding and quit borining while played indoors. He recalled a childhood game
that he used to play. He borrowed a few elements from it and developed original
13 rules of the game - basketball. Until his dying day Naismith had remained the
chief advocate of all sports and treated his invention more as recreational
entertainment than anything else without seeking any financial rewards. He never
had the opportunity to see the game become the spectacle it is today. He will be
remembered by many generations yet to come. Although Dr. Naismith held four
diplomas from unrelated fields, he always emphesized the importance of physical
education and for this reason as well as for his selflessness his name adorns
the world's only Basketball Hall of Fame.
See also:
