Urgel "Slim" Wintermute - Basketball

Urgel Wintermute earned the nickname slim thanks to his lean 6-foot-8 frame, and earned his way into Oregon lore thanks to his role in the University of Oregon’s NCAA Championship team of 1939.

Born in 1917, Wintermute grew up in Longview, Wash., and was recruited to Eugene by incoming coach Howard Hobson along with Wally Johansen, Bobby Anet and Laddie Gale, who played under freshman coach John Warren. Upon reaching the varsity team in 1936, the Ducks became the dominant team in the Pacific Coast Conference’s Northern Division, winning three consecutive division titles.

In 1939, Wintermute, whose size helped the Ducks earn the nickname “Tall Firs,” led the team to the first NCAA Tournament title.

Wintermute was voted All-America in 1938 and ’39.

After graduation, Wintermute played professionally for Detroit in the National Basketball League. In 1946, he became the player/coach of the Portland Indians in the Pacific Coast Basketball League whose roster included Ted Sarpola, a key reserve on the 1939 Oregon team, and former Oregon State standout John Mandic.

Following his playing career, he moved to Seattle and worked for Boeing.

Wintermute was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1980 and into the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.