Presented is the 1953-54 International News Service All-American Basketball Team selection certificate presented to LaSalle University standout Tom Gola. The 8 x 10-inch white paper certificate has a background photographic image of two basketball players and the legend, in black type “This certificate is presented to Tom Gola La Salle College in recognition of his selection as GUARD on the 1953-54 International News Service All-American Basketball Team”. The certificate is signed in the lower left by John R. Barrington (Sports Editor) in blue pen and Barry Farris (Editor-in-Chief) in black pen. The certificate is mounted in a white matte and displayed in a 11½ x 15½ -inch white and gold painted, engraved wood with glass frame. The International News Service was a U.S.-based news wire service agency founded by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst in 1909. In May 1958 it merged with rival United Press to become United Press International.  Gola, a junior at LaSalle in the 1953-54 college basketball season, led the Explorers to the 1954 NCAA Basketball Championship, and was selected the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. He was selected as the National Player of the Year that season and earned consensus All-American honors for the second time.

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