By Danielle Daniels
8/22/2024
Williams was a captain of the 1953 team
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Former Ohio State men’s basketball captain Thomas Williams passed away peacefully on August 19, 2024, in his hometown of Lima, Ohio. He was 93.
Williams played three seasons for the Buckeyes from 1951-53 and was captain of the 1953 team. He was regarded as one of the top defenders in the Big Ten over his final two seasons and was assigned to the opposition’s best offensive threat every night. Williams played for head coach Floyd Stahl and Floyd was quoted in an article during the 1953 season saying, “Thomas’s defense is wonderful, and I recall of number of close games being decided because of his defense.”
The 6-3, forward played in 65 games over his three seasons for the Buckeyes and averaged 8.4 points per game. Williams and the Buckeyes never lost to rival Michigan, going 4-0 over his three seasons.
Following graduation, where he received his business degree, Williams joined the finance corps of the Army, and was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany after 1954. He returned and worked in the Lima area while also coaching basketball for various teams, including the OSU Lima Branch.
COURTESY OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
