Making Their Mark

Local Kids Macauley and Carter Did Great Things
For NBA, Bowling

  
Ed Macauley and Don Carter grew up in St. Louis to become trailblazers in their respective sports. Macauley, known as “Easy Ed,” was among the NBA’s first big stars and won a championship with the St. Louis Hawks. Carter, given the moniker “Mr. Bowling,” was a pioneer in his sport. He was voted Bowler of the Year six times and helped create the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA).

Macauley passed away this past November at the age of 83. Carter, who died in early January, was 85. Both are members of the St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame. Macauley was inducted with the inaugural class in 2009 and Carter joined him a year later.

‘Easy Ed’ Spurred Greatness
 
Ed Macauley was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960. He played in the NBA’s first seven All-Star games and was named MVP in the first one. His NBA All-Star game and championship rings are on display at the St. Louis HOF exhibit inside the Scottrade Center.

In college, Macauley was a standout with the St. Louis University Billikens and led SLU in winning the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) in 1948. His professional career began with the St. Louis Bombers. After one year, he was selected in a dispersal draft by Boston and played six seasons with the Celtics.

Macauley came back to St. Louis when Boston traded him in 1956 for the rights to future Celtics superstar Bill Russell. The two squared off against each other in consecutive NBA finals in 1957 and 1958. The Hawks led by Macauley captured the ’58 crown. He played three memorable seasons with the Hawks and had his No. 22 jersey retired by the Celtics. In his career, Macauley averaged 17.5 points per game.
 
Once Named Greatest Bowler of All Time
 
A World War II veteran who started out pursuing a professional baseball career, Don Carter got turned on to bowling when he began working as a pinsetter. He became a dominant bowler in both individual and team play before the creation of the PBA in 1958. Carter was voted Bowler of the Year six times (1953, ’54, ’57, ’58, ’60 and ’62) and tabbed Greatest Bowler of All Time in a 1970 Bowling Magazine poll. He was voted into the PBA Hall of Fame in 1975. 





                 Still haven't read The Story of the St. Louis Hawks? Click this link:

                                 THE STORY OF THE ST. LOUIS HAWKS