Art Lentz
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 27, 1926 York, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | December 8, 2018 (aged 92) York, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| High school | West York (York, Pennsylvania) |
| College | York (Pennsylvania) (1947) |
| Playing career | 1948–1952 |
| Career history | |
| 1948–1951 | York Victory A.C. |
| 1951–1952 | Pottsville Packers |
| Career highlights | |
| |
Arthur H. Lentz (June 27, 1926 – December 8, 2018)[1] was an American professional basketball player. He played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) for four seasons.
Lentz was born in the borough of West York in York, Pennsylvania.[1] He started playing basketball while attending a one-room school nicknamed "Corncob College" in North Codorus Township, York County.[2][3] He attended West York High School and played basketball on the varsity team that won its league title in 1943.[2]
Military career
Lentz was about to graduate high school in 1944 when he turned 18 and received a summons to join the United States Army for World War II.[2] He was assigned to the 119th Infantry of the 30th Division and was shipped to the front lines of the Battle of the Bulge.[2] On February 23, 1945, Lentz and another soldier delivered a radio to a front-line unit by sprinting across 500 yards of open territory while under enemy fire; he received a Bronze Star Medal for heroic service.[2] On March 24, 1945, he was grazed by a bullet as he delivered ammo to a forward unit near the town of Oerlinghausen in Germany.[2] Lentz lost his upper lip in the incident and spent 30 days in hospital.[2] For his actions, he was awarded a Purple Heart and an oak leaf cluster for his Bronze Star.[2]
Lentz rejoined his unit as it approached Berlin before the city was taken over by Russian forces.[2] He spent weeks on occupation duty before he boarded a ship bound for the Pacific.[2] The war ended during his journey there and Lentz instead returned to the United States.[2]
Lentz was assigned to Fort Knox in Kentucky and played basketball for the base team against college basketball teams.[2] He scored 10 points while starting at center in a game against the Kentucky Wildcats.[2]
Lentz was discharged from service and returned home to graduate from West York High School in 1946.[1][2] He played basketball as he attended York College of Pennsylvania for half a season in 1947.[1]