the team in scoring (behind Alex Groza) as the U.S. defeated France in the gold medal game, 65–21. In the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland, Kurland carried the U.S. flag in the opening ceremony. He was again a dominant force at center as the U.S. defeated the Soviet Union in the gold medal game, 36–25. Personal life Kurland received post-graduate management training at Stanford University. He became a salesman for Phillips Petroleum Company, where he played AAU basketball, and later served as a senior marketing executive. He held a variety of positions, including ones responsible for the development of the self-service gas station concept, growth of the agricultural and plastics divisions, and management of marketing initiatives. His corporate responsibilities took his family to Denver, Wichita, Memphis, Cincinnati and Atlanta. Ultimately, the family returned to the home of Phillips Petroleum, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where Kurland served as vice mayor and as a member of the city commission for several years. He retired from Phillips in 1985. Kurland was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1961. In 1996, he was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. After retirement, Kurland and his wife, Barbara, divided time between their homes in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and Sanibel Island, Florida. Kurland died at his Florida home on September 29, 2013, at age 88. He was survived by his wife of 62 years, Barbara, their four children Alex, Ross, Dana, and Barbara, and seven grandchildren. See also List of Oklahoma State University Olympians References External links National Polish-American Sports HOF profile Voices of Oklahoma interview with Bob Kurland. First person interview conducted on January 27, 2011, with Bob Kurland. Original audio and transcript archived with Voices of Oklahoma oral history project. O-State Stories at the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program. 1924 births 2013 deaths All-American college men's basketball players American people of Polish descent Basketball players at the 1948 Summer Olympics Basketball players at the 1952 Summer Olympics Basketball players from St. Louis Centers (basketball) Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics Medalists at the 1952 Summer Olympics Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductees National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball players Olympic gold medalists for the United States in basketball People from Sanibel, Florida Phillips 66ers players St. Louis Bombers (NBA) draft picks United States men's national basketball team players American men's basketball players