Basketball Hall of Fame

As a 6-foot-1 guard, Howie Williams' 16 points against NCAA champion Kansas helped the National Industrial Basketball League champion Peoria Diesels win the 1952 Olympic Tournament. He scored the final and winning basket in the championship game. He was named to three Amateur Athletic Union all-America squads during four years with Peoria and finished with 1,235 career points, eighth on the all-time list.

He played in all seven U.S. Olympic basketball victories on the way to the 1952 gold medal at Helsinki.

Williams earned varsity basketball letters at Purdue for the 1946-48-49-50 seasons, and was twice named Most Valuable Player for the Boilermakers. His .857 free throw percentage led all Big Ten Conference free throw shooters in 1948-49.

Williams led a 71-65 Purdue victory over Bradley in 1949, the dedication game for Robertson Memorial Field House and the first loss for the Braves after four victories in the new facility.