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Bill Menke

1918 – 1945

American basketball player

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About Bill Menke

Lived 1918 – 1945 (aged 26). Bill Menke was an American basketball player.

William Charles Menke (October 16, 1918 – January 7, 1945) was an American basketball player. He was an NCAA All-American at Indiana University and a starter on the school's first championship team in 1940.

Menke, a 6'3" center from Huntingburg High School in Huntingburg, Indiana and Kemper Military School, played for coach Branch McCracken at Indiana from 1938 to 1941, averaging 8.8 points per game for his career. Menke was named a third team All-American by Converse during the Hoosiers' 1939–40 championship season, joining teammate Marvin Huffman on the All-America team. His younger brother, Bob, was also his teammate at Indiana.

Menke graduated as the Hoosiers' all-time leading scorer with 530 points, although this record has since been eclipsed. Following his college career, Menke played in the Amateur Athletic Association with the Great Lakes Naval Training Station team. Menke died in a plane crash during World War II while serving with the United States Navy. Menke was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Indiana University Bloomington
Also known as
William Charles Menke

People in Bill Menke's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Bill Menke's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Bill Menke?

American basketball player (1918-1945)

When was Bill Menke born?

Bill Menke was born on 16 October 1918.

When did Bill Menke die?

Bill Menke died on 7 January 1945.

What was Bill Menke's occupation?

Bill Menke was a basketball player.

What nationality was Bill Menke?

Bill Menke was American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Bill Menke

· Wikidata: Q4910161

· DBpedia: Bill Menke

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bill Menke. https://biography.guide/bill-menke/

MLA: "Bill Menke." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bill-menke/.

Chicago: "Bill Menke." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bill-menke/.

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