St. Francis legend Maurice Stokes

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WJAC) — Maurice Stokes was a dominant force during his career at St. Francis College in the mid-1950s.

He led St. Francis to the national invitational tournament in 1955, and despite a fourth-place finish, he earned Most Valuable Player honors.

After his career with the Red Flash, Stokes then starred for three years with the NBA's Cincinnati Royals, but during the last game of the 1958 season, he suffered a head injury. Several days later, he had a seizure and was left paralyzed.

Royals teammate Jack Twyman became his legal guardian, a heartwarming relationship the two shared until Stokes died in 1970 at the age of 36.

At his request, the funeral was held at St. Francis on April 9 of that year.

Among those in attendance were Oscar Robertson and another former St. Francis star, Norm Van Lier, both of whom were with Cincinnati that season.

Stokes is buried at the Franciscan Friar Cemetery on campus, and, of course, the Stokes building, home of the Red Flash, is named in his honor.

Stokes was also dominant in his short NBA career.

In his three seasons, nobody had more rebounds than the 6-foot-7, 230-pound forward, who earned rookie of the year honors in 1956.

He was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004.

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