Athletes Who Died in February 2015

Charlie Sifford (1922-2015)

Feb 3 American golfer (first African-American to join PGA Tour, 2 titles), dies of a stroke at 92

  • Feb 6 Norm Drucker, American basketball referee (NBA Supervisor of Officials 1977–81; ABA Supervisor of the Officials 1969–73), dies at 94

Billy Casper (1931-2015)

Feb 7 American golfer (US Open 1959, 66; US Masters 1970), dies of a heart attack at 83

  • Feb 7 Dean Smith, American actor and relay runner (Olympic gold 1952), dies at 83
  • Feb 9 Claude Ruel, Canadian NHL coach (Stanley Cup 1968-69, Montreal Canadiens), dies at 76

Ed Sabol (1916-2015)

Feb 9 American filmmaker (NFL Films), dies at 98

  • Feb 11 Jerry Tarkanian, American collegiate basketball coach, 1961-2002 (California State, UNLV, Fresno State; career record: 784–202), dies at 84

Earl Lloyd (1928-2015)

Feb 26 1st African American basketball player in the NBA, dies at 86

Alex Johnson (1942-2015)

Feb 28 American baseball outfielder (MLB All Star, AL batting champion 1970, California Angels), dies from prostate cancer at 72

  • Feb 28 Anthony Mason, American NBA forward (NY Knicks, Charlotte Hornets), dies at 48 of a heart attack