Hall of Fame
Basketball (1947-50)
A basketball star of the late 1940’s at University of Nevada, Joe Libke came to Reno after graduating high school in Sullivan, Ind., a program that also sent fellow Hall of Famer Scott Beasley as well as Tom Batey, Ebby Robertson and Les Ray to Wolf Pack teams. Libke started his career at University of Indiana and followed his teammates west to the University. He earned a starting role for Coach Jake Lawlor from 1948-50. In 1950, the Wolf Pack set a record in averaging 61 points, and the blond 6-foot, 3-inch Libke led the team with 123 field goals. His career performance came against St. Francis U. of Brooklyn, which was leading Nevada going into the last half-minute of play. Libke twice stole the ball and hit driving layups and Larkins added another as Nevada pulled a miracle upset. His big disappointment was when Nevada was rejected from a national (NAIB) tourney in Kansas City because of a gambler’s donation to the travel fund, a season that had already seen Nevada defeat Indiana State, which won the national championship.
Libke majored in pre-dental at the University and went to dental school at Indiana. After graduation from dental school, Libke and his wife, Norma, moved to San Diego where he spent three years in the Navy before returning to Reno to begin his dental practice, specializing in pediatric dentistry. During his years practicing, Dr. Libke was active in the local dental society and was appointed to the Nevada State Board of Health by Governor Paul Laxalt. Libke and his good friend, Bill Parish, played an instrumental role in starting the boosters club at the University of Nevada, Reno and served as its first president for 10 years. Libke passed away in Reno in 2013 at the age of 84.
