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MARSHALL SPORTS
Former Herd basketball star Toothman dies
HUNTINGTON -- Bill Toothman, a former All-American basketball player that helped lead Marshall to the 1947 NAIB National Championship, passed away Friday at The Woodlands Retirement Village.
Toothman, a Huntington native, was captain of the NAIB All-America Second Team in 1947 after helping the Herd notch the title with a 73-59 win over Mankato (Minn.) State in Kansas City, Mo.
Toothman played for the legendary coach Cam Henderson and will forever be remembered for the shot that got Marshall into the title game, a 55-foot launch with under 20 seconds left that gave Marshall a 56-55 win over Emporia (Kan.) State.
He graduated from Huntington High School before moving on to play for Marshall, where he is currently 19th all-time in career points with 1,326.
He and his wife Helen had four children: Emma, Mary, Robert and Nancy.
Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday, Klingel Carpenter Mortuary, Huntington; burial at Woodmere Memorial Park, Huntington. Visitation two hours before service Monday at the funeral home.
Toothman was 83.
