Stonebraker - Homer
Source: Article found in an old scrapbook with obituaries collected by Fauniel Hershberger, a long-time Fountain County resident -- typed by Walt W
Homer “Stoney” Stonebraker, 82, of 5015 W. 14th St. of Speedway City, Indiana, formerly of Wingate, died Friday, December 9, 1977 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Mr. Stonebraker was one of the first persons to be named to the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a member of Wingate High teams that won the Indiana High School basketball championships in 1913 and 1914. After defeating its Montgomery County rival, Crawfordsville, Wingate went on to defeat Clinton 17-13 the same day. Mr. Stonebraker was captain of the team, scoring all 17 points, with four field goals and nine free throws. He was an All-American basketball player in 1915, 1916 and 1917 while a member of the Wabash College team. He played professional basketball for the Fort Wayne Hoosiers and the Chicago Bruins. After retiring from playing basketball, he coached the Hartford City High basketball team and later served two terms as Cass County sheriff while living in Logansport. When he retired from professional basketball in 1928, Abe Saperstein, the founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, called him "the greatest all-around center I've ever seen." He was an employee for 31 yrs. at Detroit Diesel Allison Division of General Motors at Indianapolis. Mr. Stonebraker attended Center Grade School at Wingate and was graduated from Wingate High School in 1914. He was born Nov. 1, 1895, a son of Edward and Martha Wainscott Stonebraker. He was last married to Jeanette Williams who survives. Survivors beside his wife include a daughter, Miss Martha Stonebraker of Chicago; two brothers, Clay of near Elmdale in Montgomery County, and Robert now living in Thompsonville, Georgia. His namesake nephew, Homer Stonebraker, resides north of Newtown. Services at the Conkle Funeral Home in Speedway. Burial in Oakland Cemetery northeast of Wingate.
Source: Crawfordsville Journal Review 9 Dec 1977 p 1 typed by Walt W
WINGATE — Homer "Stoney" Stonebraker, 82, a Wingate native who led the high school team here to state basketball championships in 1913-14, died at 4:15 a.m. today in Methodist Hospital at Indianapolis. He had been in the hospital suffering from a severe heart ailment. Mr. Stonebraker also received All-American honors 1915-16-17 at Wabash College at Crawfordsville. He went from the college team, known as the Wabash "Wonder Five," to the pro league where he played for the Fort Wayne Hoosiers and the Chicago Bruins of the old National Basketball Association. He was regarded by many as one of the best centers in this part of the country during his pro career. When he retired from professional basketball in 1928, Abe Saperstein, the founder of the Harlem Globetrotters, called him "the greatest all-around center I've ever seen." Stonebraker interrupted his professional career after his graduation from Wabash in 1918 and served in the Army in World War I. After quitting the pros, he coached at Hartford City. He later moved to Logansport where he was elected Cass County Sheriff and served two terms. After serving as sheriff, Mr. Stonebraker moved to Indianapolis where he worked for the state. He also was employed at Allison's Division of General Motors for 31 years. He was one of the first inductees into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1962 and worked for its improvement. He had been living in Speedway. Mr. Stonebraker attended Center Grade School at Wingate and was graduated from Wingate High School in 1914. He was born near here on Nov. 1, 1895, a son of Edward and Martha Wainscott Stonebraker. He was last married to Jeanette Williams. She survives. Other survivors are a daughter, Martha of Chicago, and two brothers, Cecil of Wingate and Robert of Thompsonville, Ga. Arrangements are incomplete at Conkle Funeral Home, Speedway Chapel.
Source: Covington Friend Wednesday, Dec. 14, 1977
Wingate, Ind.—Homer “Stoney” Stonebraker, 82, of 5015 W. 14th, Speedway, formerly of Wingate, died Friday, December 9, 1977 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. He had been a patient several years.
Mr. Stonebraker was one of the first persons to be named to the Indiana High School Basketball Hall of Fame. He was a member of Wingate High teams that won the Indiana High School basketball championships in 1913 and 1914.
After defeating its Montgomery County rival, Crawfordsville, 24-1 in the 1914 tournament, Wingate went on to defeat Clinton 17-13 the same day. Mr. Stonebraker was captain of the team, scoring all 17 points, with four field goals and nine free throws.
He was an All-American basketball player in 1915, 1916 and 1917 while a member of the Wabash College team. He played professional basketball for the Fort Wayne Hoosiers and the Chicago Bruins. After retiring from playing basketball, he coached the Hartford City High basketball team and later served two terms as Cass County sheriff while living in Logansport.
He was an employee for 31 years at Detroit Diesel Allison Division of General Motors at Indianapolis.
Survivors include his wife, the former Jeanette Williams, and a daughter, Miss Martha Stonebraker of Chicago. -s