Gary Suiter

Gary G. Suiter (January 18, 1945 – October 23, 1982) was an American professional basketball player. He had previously attended the University of New Mexico in 1962 on a basketball scholarship but transferred after numerous disciplinary reasons.

Suiter played one season (1970–71) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers and averaged 1.4 points in 30 games. He was the first person from Albuquerque to play in the NBA.

Suiter was known as a gambler, and he was murdered over an alleged money debt in 1982.

Early life Suiter was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on January 18, 1944. Suiter attended Sandia High School, where he played at the center and power forward positions. Suiter was a unanimous All-State selection his senior season, and was the only New Mexico selection for the high school All-American team. In his senior season, he was recruited by Kentucky, Kansas State, Texas Western (now UTEP), Arizona, Arizona State, Idaho State, Brigham Young University, New Mexico State University, Texas Tech, the University of Washington, Pepperdine, and the University of New Mexico.

Suiter accepted the University of New Mexico's offer, however, Suiter did not play past the fall semester.

Suiter enrolled at Midwestern State University in the fall of 1966. Suiter hitchhiked from New Mexico to Wichita Falls and called Midwestern State's coach Dennis Vinzant asking for a tryout. After sitting out a year due to transfer rules, he played a total of 2 years for the Mustangs. In his junior year Suiter played in 11 games, averaging a double-double, with 14.8 points per a game and 10 rebounds per a game on average. Suiter's senior year saw more productivity; he started all 28 games and again averaged a double-double. Suiter averaged 22.1 points per a game, and pulled in 15.4 rebounds per a game. He toured France with other former college basketball players. On January 10, he scored four points in his debut during a win over the Hamden Bics. On January 31, Suiter's player rights were traded to the Binghamton Flyers. On February 1, he scored a team-high 29 points in his Flyers debut in a loss to the Sunbury Mercuries.

Suiter tried out for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1970. He, "appeared one day with a armload of films, and made the team by blocking two shots of a disinterested Connie Hawkins at an exhibition game." He played in 30 games and averaged 1.4 points. Suiter was cut midway through the 1970–1971 season, because he "was found in full uniform in the stands munching hot dogs." He made his first appearance with the team that same day and scored 4 points in a loss to the Hamden Bics. In February, he worked out for the Camden Bullets.

Suiter was cut by the 76ers in September, 1973, after making the team a month before.

Later life Suiter was arrested over a $175 shoplifting accusation. Because of the overcrowding of jails in Albuquerque, Suiter was incarcerated at the Penitentiary of New Mexico. He was incarcerated just 8 days before the New Mexico State penitentiary riots took place in 1980, the most violent prison riot in U.S. history. Suiter was beaten with a metal pipe and other bludgeons by inmates that were intoxicated. Suiter suffered lacerations, contusions, and fractures. He claimed his leg was permanently impaired. Suiter ended up suing the state, and won due to the prisons lack of adequate security. Albert Jerome Romero pleaded guilty for assault against Suiter, and was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Gambling issues Suiter was known to be a gambler, and often hustled at pool halls around New Mexico and Texas. He was "a fairly good pool player and you could find him in the pool halls during the day and then on the 3 by 6 bar tables at night."

Death On October 23, 1982, Suiter was murdered near Rio Rancho, New Mexico, as he allegedly owed money. He had been lured by Gary Randall Hoxsie and John Waters to the banks of the Rio Grande under the pretence of a dice game. Hoxsie was arrested at an Albuquerque pawn shop when he tried to sell Suiter's jewelry. Waters testified against Hoxsie and received probation after pleading guilty to tampering with evidence.

Legacy Suiter was ranked the second "Most Colorful Cavalier Player" by the Plain Dealer.

Career statistics

NBA Source

Regular season Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPGCleveland 30 4.7 .352 .444 1.4 .1 1.4