Winter Auction 2021 Ending March 6-7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/7/2021
NBA Hall of Famer Tom Gola accomplished many feats on the court, winning an NCAA Championship while a LaSalle Explorer in 1954 and an NBA Championship with the Philadelphia Warriors in 1956. The five-time NBA All-Star would go on to coach at LaSalle for two seasons before embarking on a career as a public servant. The Republican Gola was elected as a Pennsylvania House State Representative, serving from 1969-1970, until he resigned to successfully run for Philadelphia City Controller, serving from 1970-1974.
These presented three items consist of a lifetime achievement award, his official Pennsylvania House of Representatives certification document, and a Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police award honoring his NCAA Championship and NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player selection.
The 20 x 16-inch official House of Representatives document certifying Gola’s victory of being elected the representative from the 170th district, with the testimonial attesting to the oath signed by Chief Clerk Vincent Scarcelli and Pa Speaker of the House, Hubert Fineman in ink. The document is in excellent condition but displays some toning. A bright “Seal of the House Of Representatives of Pennsylvania” in gold is affixed to the document.
Gola was the son of a Philadelphia police officer, the second item in this lot is a 23 1/8 x 17 ¼ -inch framed document from the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge No. 5, and honors Gola’s accomplishments during the 1952 season where he was an integral part of the LaSalle basketball team that won the NCCA Championship. The document pays respects to Gola’s father, Gola’s NCAA MVP, and the 1952 Championship, and his NBA debut for the Warriors. It was issued to Gola on November 22nd, 1955. The document is signed by the lodge president, Alfred W. Baxter, and two other lodge members in black ink. The document is on a faded tan matte and is in excellent condition.
The third item in this lot is a 29 x 20-inch framed Eight Annual Peach Basket Festival Tip-Off Classic achievement award given to Gola to honor his entrance into the NBA Hall of Fame. The Annual Peach Basket Tip-Off Festival was held in Springfield, Massachusetts, where the sport of basketball was founded and signaled the start of the NCAA basketball season. The festival recognized Gola for his achievements in professional basketball and his induction into the NBA Hall of Fame; however, the document states his induction year as 1975; it was actually in 1976 that Gola was enshrined. The signed achievement award is on yellow paper on a blue matte and is in excellent condition. The lot of three items come with an LOA from Gola family.