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La Salle legend Tom Gola passed away Sunday night

Obit Gola

File-This April 2, 1956, file photo shows George Yardley (12) Fort Wayne outreaching Tom Gola (15) of the Philadelphia Warriors, under his own basket to save the ball for the Pistons in Fort Wayne. Gola, the Hall of Fame basketball player who led La Salle to the 1954 NCAA title and helped the Philadelphia Warriors win the 1956 NBA championship, died Sunday Jan. 26, 2014. He was 81. (AP Photo/File)

AP

Tom Gola, one of the greatest college basketball players of all time, passed away on Sunday night. He was 81 years old.

Obit Gola

File-This April 2, 1956, file photo shows George Yardley (12) Fort Wayne outreaching Tom Gola (15) of the Philadelphia Warriors, under his own basket to save the ball for the Pistons in Fort Wayne. Gola, the Hall of Fame basketball player who led La Salle to the 1954 NCAA title and helped the Philadelphia Warriors win the 1956 NBA championship, died Sunday Jan. 26, 2014. He was 81. (AP Photo/File)

AP

Gola was Philly through and through. A native of the city, he won a Catholic League title at La Salle High School before heading to La Salle University where he would become one of just two collegiate players to ever gather more than 2,000 points and 2,000 rebounds.

“Every person connected with La Salle basketball for over a 60 year span has held his friendship and leadership as a blessing they could always count on,” La Salle coach John Giannini said. “Our deepest sympathies go to Caroline. Our community will forever hold the Gola name as synonymous with greatness.”

After his basketball career came to an end, Gola served the city as a politician.

“Tom Gola was a Philadelphia icon and a treasure for La Salle. His contributions as a player and coach provided La Salle with a true national profile,” Tom Brennan, Explorers athletic director, said in a statement. “Tom’s athletic accomplishments and athletic career were second to none.”

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