Former Wildcat great Ted Rose, second from right, receives applause from fans and NMU coaches, from left, assistant coach Terry Nash, head coach Bill Sall and assistant coach Charles Belt during Ted Rose Appreciation Day at the Berry Events Center on the Northern Michigan University campus in Marquette on Nov. 19, 2016. (Journal file photo)

MARQUETTE — Former Northern Michigan University basketball great Theodore “Ted” Rose passed away on Oct. 10 at age 72.

Rose, who was living in Louisville, Kentucky, was a four-time letter winner for the Wildcats from 1966-70 and made a big impact on the men’s basketball program.

He is still the team’s only three-time most valuable player and was named an Associated Press All-American while also serving as team captain as a senior.

Inducted into the NMU Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, Rose holds the program’s single-game scoring record of 54 points against Central Michigan in the 1968-69 season, while two other times he scored at least 40 points in a game.

He is fourth all-time in NMU men’s scoring with 1,903 points and second in rebounds with 973, while also holding the record with 563 free throws attempted.

In a game against rival Michigan Tech during the ’68-’69 season, he had a perfect shooting line, scoring 22 points on 9 of 9 shooting from the field and 4 of 4 at the free-throw line. It’s still only one of two times a Wildcat has had a perfect shooting night in a 20-point game.

Rose, who also played football at NMU, was selected in the 1970 NBA draft by the Baltimore Bullets and later became one of just two players to have his number retired and hung in the Berry Events Center.

He was coached by Stan Albeck, who would go on to coach in the NBA, and also Glenn Brown, who was inducted into the Upper Peninsula Sports Hall of Fame.

“Ted was an all-time great Wildcat who played for two legendary Northern Michigan coaches,” Northern Michigan director of athletics Forrest Karr said in a news release from the university. “In recent years, Ted continued his support for NMU student-athletes. He spent meaningful time with the men’s basketball team in Louisville last December and his legacy will continue to have a lasting positive impact on the program. Our sympathy goes out to Ted’s family and friends during this time of loss.”

Despite years of battling diabetes, Rose was able to fulfill a wish he had by making the trip from Louisville to Marquette to be honored by the team at on Ted Rose Appreciation Day at the BEC before and after a game on Nov. 19, 2016.

“He was a fan favorite and everyone around town recognizes his name,” then-NMU head coach Bill Sall said just prior to those ceremonies. “Rose was a part of the golden era of NMU basketball, and it will be a unique opportunity for both of us.

“His dream was to come back to Marquette and attend an NMU basketball game and see what it’s about, and it will be a special weekend.”

A memorial service for Rose will take place Saturday morning at Canaan Christian Church in Louisville.

He is survived by his daughter, Latoya Rose; granddaughters, Tysheana and Anaia; and sisters, Grace Hall and Christine Schultz, according to an online obituary at Newcomer Cremations of the Louisville area.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.