Tracing Oklahoma State’s still expanding sports legacy of outstanding athletes to its roots reveals one man, albeit one big man. Bob Kurland.

The key figure on two Oklahoma A&M basketball national title teams and two U.S. Olympic gold medal squads, Kurland died Sunday at his home in south Florida following a lengthy illness. He was 88 years old.

“Bob Kurland was really a quality guy,” said former Cowboys player and coach Eddie Sutton. “He had already finished when I got to college, but I got to know him quite well and he was a marvelous man.”

Before Shaquille O’Neal. Before Hakeem Olajuwon. Before Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Before Wilt Chamberlain. Before Bill Russell.