Loretto, PA -- The student-athletes of Saint Francis University will honor the late Jack Twyman and his friendship with Red Flash legend Maurice Stokes over the course of the 2012-13 season with the theme “Become That Someone.”
The theme was derived from a 2008 interview Twyman gave with the New York Post. "Maurice was on this own," Twyman said. "Something had to be done and someone had to do it. I was the only one there, so I became that someone."
“We thought the theme was a fitting way to honor the life of Jack Twyman and also teach and remind our student-athletes about the bond that existed between Stokes and Twyman,” said John Krimmel, Assistant Director of Athletics for Student-Athlete Academic Services. “Last year we challenged our student-athletes to 'Dare to be Uncommon' and this year we are challenging them to 'become that someone' for a person in their life.”
All Red Flash student-athletes will receive t-shirts with the new theme, which will also make its way into prominent locations around campus and on University athletics publications.
Twyman, who passed away in May, along with Stokes were emerging as legitimate stars in the fledgling NBA by 1958. However, their lives would dramatically change on March 15 when Stokes collapsed three days after hitting his head during a win over the Minneapolis Lakers.
Stokes, a three-time NBA All-Star, was diagnosed with post-traumatic encephalopathy and remained bedridden for 12 years until his death in 1970. Twyman became Stokes' legal guardian, helping with medical expenses and even organized an annual basketball game to raise money for Stokes and other former players in need.
Twyman was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983 and accepted the same honor on Stokes' behalf in 2004.