Ex-Ducks Star Dies

Lauren “Laddie” Gale, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame who led the legendary 1939 Oregon “Tall Firs” to the first NCAA championship, died Monday.

Gale, 79, died in Curry County General Hospital, where he had been admitted a day earlier. He died of natural causes.

At 6-foot-4, Gale was the second-tallest player on the Oregon team, behind 6-8 Urgel “Slim” Wintermute.

In the first NCAA title game, Gale and guard Bobby Anet each scored 10 points, and forward John Dick scored 13 as Oregon beat the Ohio Buckeyes 46-33.