Hazel Leona (Walker) Crutcher (1914 - 1990)

Born 8 Aug 1914 in Burke Township, Little River, Arkansas, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Everette Eugene Crutcher — married 16 Dec 1934 in Union, Arkansas, United States

Died 18 Dec 1990 at age 76 in Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas, United States

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Biography

Hazel (Walker) Crutcher is Notable.

Hazel Leona Walker is the preeminent amateur women's basketball player of the 1930s and 1940s, earning recognition with eleven Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) All-American distinctions. What sets her apart is her exceptional achievement as the sole woman to own, manage, and star for her own professional basketball team, the Arkansas Travelers. From 1949 to 1965, Walker led the Travelers in barnstorming across the country, competing exclusively against men's teams under men's rules. Remarkably, her team consistently achieved an impressive win rate of eighty to eighty-five percent over the sixteen seasons. Hazel Walker's pioneering contributions to women's basketball, both as a player and team owner, make her a notable and trailblazing figure in the history of the sport.^[1][2]

Hazel Leona Walker entered the world on August 8, 1914, in Burk, Little River County, Arkansas. The only daughter of Herbert Samuel Walker and Minnie Leona (Chauncey) Walker^[3], she hailed from a family rooted in Arkansas, proud of their Cherokee descent.^[4]

As a child, Hazel lived in Lick Creek Township, Little River County, Arkansas^[5], and by 1928, she embarked on her basketball journey at Ashdown High School. Her prowess on the court quickly earned her accolades, securing spots in both the All-District and All-State teams as a forward.^[4][6]

In pursuit of her passion, Hazel obtained a basketball scholarship from Tulsa Business College, where she played a pivotal role in securing the 1932-1933 and 1933-1934 National AAU championships. It was during this time that her talent and dedication began to shine.^[4]

On December 16, 1934, Hazel married Everette Eugene Crutcher in Union County, Arkansas.^[7][8] Tragically, Everette's life was cut short on August 19, 1940, in a railroad accident in Pomona, California. Despite their union, the couple did not have any children.^[9]

Undeterred by personal challenges, Hazel continued her basketball career over the next twelve years, contributing her skills to various teams, including Lion Oil Company of El Dorado, Lewis and Norwood Flyers Insurance, Arkansas Motor Coaches, and Dr. Pepper Bottling Company, all based in Little Rock, Arkansas.^[4][10]

Her peak years came between 1936 and 1941, during which she helped the Norwood Flyers secure three National AAU championships. Hazel's individual achievements were equally impressive, earning her All-America honors eleven times and setting a national free throw record of 49 out of 50.^[4][11]

The year 1940 marked a pivotal moment in her career, as she was elected to the HAF Hall of Fame and recognized by the Associated Press as the nation's top female athlete.^[4]

After playing professionally with Olsen's All-American Red Heads from 1946 to 1949, Hazel took charge and organized her own team, the Arkansas Travelers. This remarkable team played an intense schedule, facing men's teams with men's rules. Hazel not only excelled on the court, but also managed the team's schedule, finances, and publicity. The Arkansas Travelers, known for their entertainment value, boasted an impressive 80 percent win rate.^[4]

Hazel's illustrious basketball career spanned 37 seasons, concluding with her retirement in 1966. Post-retirement, she was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1959 and the Four States Area Hall of Fame in 1976.^[4]

For the next 16 years, Hazel dedicated her time to caring for her parents in Little Rock. In addition to her caregiving responsibilities, she conducted basketball clinics in schools and colleges and actively supported the Special Olympics.^[4]

The final chapter of Hazel Leona Walker's remarkable life unfolded on December 18, 1990, when she passed away in Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas.^[12] Her legacy lives on, and she rests at Ashdown Cemetery in Ashdown, Little River County, Arkansas, leaving behind a trailblazing journey in the world of women's basketball.^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. Hazel Walker. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. August 9, 2023, 16:18 UTC. Available at: "Hazel Walker." Accessed January 21, 2024.
2. ↑ Newton, Gary, Little Rock, Arkansas, Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 1 Aug 2023. "Hazel Leona Walker (1914–1990)." Accessed 21 Jan 2024.
3. ↑ Arkansas, Birth Certificates, 1914-1922: Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Birth Certificates; Year: 1914 Ancestry Record 61774 #50494
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8} Porter, David L.. Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary. United Kingdom: ABC-CLIO, 2005. "Basketball - A Biographical Dictionary." Accessed 21 Jan 2024.
5. ↑ 1920 United States Federal Census: Year: 1920; Census Place: Lick Creek, Little River, Arkansas; Roll: T625_69; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 34 Ancestry Record 6061 #3175044
6. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census: Year: 1930; Census Place: Lick Creek, Little River, Arkansas; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0016; FHL microfilm: 2339817 Ancestry Record 6224 #86783778
7. ↑ Arkansas, Marriage Certificates, 1917-1972: Arkansas Department of Vital Records; Little Rock, Arkansas; Marriage Certificates; Year: 1934; Film: #9 Ancestry Record 61775 #90511518
8. ↑ Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957: Ancestry.com. Arkansas, U.S., County Marriages Index, 1837-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Original data: "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957." Index. FamilySearch, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2009, 2011. "Arkansas County Marriages, 1838–1957," database, FamilySearch; from Arkansas Courts of Common Pleas and County Clerks. Digital images of originals housed at various county courthouses in the State of Arkansas. Marriage records. Ancestry Record 2548 #3241100
9. ↑ Brakeman Crushed Between Two Cars, Santa Barbara News-Press, Santa Barbara, California, 20 Aug 1940, Tue. - Page 1. Newspapers Clip: 139244148, Accessed 21 Jan 2024.
10. ↑ Little Rock Flyers Will Defend National Crown; Girls' Show Makes Boys' Cage Play Appear Drab, Mount Carmel Item, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvannia, 22 Mar 1941, Sat. - Page 5. Newspapers Clip: 139243741, Accessed 21 Jan 2024.
11. ↑ Hazel Crutcher Wins Free Throw Title, The Wichita Eagle, Wichita, Kansas, 25 Mar 1928, Fri. - Page 6. Newspapers Clip: 139243554, Accessed 21 Jan 2024.
12. ↑ U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014: Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File Ancestry Record 3693 #13412655
13. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6219655/hazel-leona-crutcher: accessed 21 January 2024), memorial page for Hazel Leona Walker Crutcher (8 Aug 1914–18 Dec 1990), Find A Grave: Memorial #6219655, citing Ashdown Cemetery, Ashdown, Little River County, Arkansas, USA; Maintained by Find a Grave.

See Also

• Wikidata: Item Q5688022