photograph
Catalog Number
2019.1.40Description
Black and white photograph of Bill Fox (1936-2017) wearing uniform and jacket posing with basketball. Bill Fox played for Don Cook's Oilers.The Oilers played out of both Holland and Zeeland and were members of the Midwest Basketball League from 1961 to 1964.
History
Bill Fox's obituary:"William Edward Fox, Sr. (Bill/Eddy) 81, passed away on July 5, 2017, in his home in Indianapolis, Indiana. William Edward Fox, Sr., son of the late William Marion and Pernecia Fox was born on January 25, 1936 in South Bend, Indiana.
Bill was a 1955 graduate of South Bend Washington High School, where he was a standout varsity letter winner on the basketball team as the 3rd leading scorer (18 pt. average per game) Bill helped lead his team to the ENIHSC and City Championship in 1955. Bill attended Central State College in Wilberforce, Ohio.
On December 26th, 1957, he married Everlyena (House) Fox in West Point, Mississippi. To their union are 4 children: Alecia (James) Williams, Marvin (Thelma) Fox, William E. (Joyce) Jr., and Vivica A. Fox.
Bill is also survived by one brother, Melvin (Brenda) Fox; Dellando (Glenda) Fox, Shannon (Marilyn) Fox, Arlena (Howell) Fox, Glenn (Angela) Howell, Shawn (Felicia) Howell, Ronnie (Darshell) Howell, Ryan (Takeya) Howell, Starice (Bailey) Fox, Richard Easley Jr., Starice Easley. Bill has 22 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 9 great‑great grandchildren; along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Bill worked for: Studebaker, Zayre Corp, Urban League of Indiana and the public schools in Michigan, where he retired from in 1998.
Bill rededicated his life to Christ and was a faithful servant at First Baptist Church North in Indianapolis, Indiana. Bill loved to travel and spend time with his family and friends. He never met a stranger and always had a smile on his face.
He was preceded in death by his siblings: Stanley Fox, Lorene Jane Fox, Anna Douglas, Betty Ruth Covington, James T. Fox and Nathaniel Fox."
The Oilers (a.k.a. Texaco Oilers) were named after owner Don Cook's Texaco service station in Zeeland, MI. The team was part of the Midwest Professional Basketball League during the 1962-63 and 1963-64 seasons. They won the championship in 1962-63 defeating the Toledo Tartans.
From the 1958-59 season through part of the 1961-62 season the team played their home games at Zeeland High School. A portion of the 1961-62 season was spent at Holland's Civic Center to accommodate the larger crowds.
The 1962-63 and 1963-64 seasons were played at the Civic Center.
Several players had experience playing in the NBA. A few even played for the Harlem Globetrotters. Ed Burton played for the Globetrotters from 1958-1960 before joining the NBA's New York Knicks in 1961. Burton then played on the 1962-63 and 1963-64 Oilers teams.
Frank Burks, a standout at the University of Wisconsin, played for the Globetrotters in 1960. He played with the Oilers during the 1962-63 and 1963-64 seasons.
Charles "Sweet Charlie" Brown played for the Globetrotters from 1958 to 1960 and joined the Oilers in 1961.