Arnie Risen
A towering, rugged center whose defensive grit and rebounding prowess helped anchor two professional basketball championship teams.
1924–2012 (age 88)·American basketball player·Birthday: October 9·The Greatest Generation
Biography
In the rough-and-tumble early years of professional basketball, Arnie Risen stood tall—literally and figuratively. Nicknamed 'Stilts' for his 6'9" frame, he brought a hard-nosed, midwestern work ethic from his college days at Ohio State to the pro ranks. He wasn't a flashy scorer but a relentless rebounder and defender, using his strength to control the paint. His prime came with the Rochester Royals, where he formed a formidable frontcourt and helped them snatch the 1951 NBA championship from the favored New York Knicks. Later, as a veteran, he provided crucial interior presence for the Boston Celtics, earning a second ring in 1957 alongside a young Bill Russell, bridging the game's old guard with its new dynasty.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Arnie was born in 1924, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Arnie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1924
#1 Movie
The Sea Hawk
Arnie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1924Born
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1929Started school
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1937Became a teenager
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1940Could drive
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1942Could vote
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1945Turned 21
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1954Turned 30
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 40
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 50
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 60
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 70
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 80
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2012Died at 88
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Won an NBA championship with the Rochester Royals in 1951, averaging a double-double in the Finals.
- Earned a second NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 1957.
- Selected as an NBA All-Star four times (1952, 1953, 1954, 1955).
- Averaged a double-double for seven consecutive seasons during his peak with the Royals.
Did You Know?
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before attending Ohio State University.
He was known for his durability, playing in 492 consecutive games at one point in his career.
After retirement, he worked for many years as a sales representative for a paper company.
His 1951 Royals championship team defeated the New York Knicks in a thrilling seven-game series.
“You get the ball on the boards, you control the game.”
