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Zips letterman in 1940s is in four halls of fame. Called a self-made man
By Tom Gaffney
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Tuesday, Sep 23, 2008
Sam Serves, a former basketball standout at the University of Akron who later became a successful area businessman, died Sunday at Akron General Medical Center after a long illness. He was 86.
Serves was a four-year letterman for the Zips in the 1940s and was only the second player in the program's history to surpass the 1,000-point mark for his career.
Later, he stayed in sports as owner of both Hol-Hi Golf Course and Driving Range, and Colonial Bowling Lanes. His professional career also included ownership of All-Ohio Sand and Gravel Co., and Sam Serves Building Co.
''He was proud of being a self-made man. Nothing was handed to him,'' said Susan Serves, one of his three daughters. ''All the strengths I have as a person come from him. He taught me not to be afraid to go after challenges and to be confident. I had so much love and support from him.''
Mr. Serves was born in Canton of parents who had moved there from Greece in 1918, but he spent most of his life in Akron. He graduated from East High School, where he played basketball for four years and earned All-City honors.
At UA, he parlayed a two-hand set shot and an underhand free-throw shooting style to be named All-Ohio Conference and All-Ohio Dream Team three times. Serves, a 5-foot-10 guard, finished his 94-game Zips career with 1,013 points, which trailed only Fritz Nagy (1,258) at the time. The total currently ranks 35th on the school's all-time list.
''He was a good guy and a good teammate,'' said Frank ''Whitey'' Wahl, who played two seasons with Serves. ''He could shoot that set shot and he could dribble and handle the ball.
''He was always trying to help people and always tried to do things the right way. I can't say enough good things about him.''
In his adult years, Mr. Serves liked to play golf and tennis, but basketball was his favorite sport. He studied free-throw shooting and often gave advice to area players about its mechanics.
He also was a follower of the sports scene at the University of Akron.
''He was a down-to-earth, nice guy,'' said former UA sports information director Ken MacDonald. ''I never saw him play but got to know him later in life. He loved Akron U. Whenever, you talked to him, he wanted to be in-the-know about what was happening. He was an avid supporter.''
Serves is a member of four halls of fame: East High, UA, Summit County Sports and National Hellenic Basketball Association.
Serves and his wife, Neda, were married for 49 years until her death in 1998. They raised three daughters: Sandra, Susan and Sharon.
He is survived by his daughters, four grandchildren and his sister, Tula.
Calling hours will be 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Eckard-Baldwin Funeral Home and Chapel, 760 E. Market St., Akron.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 129 S. Union St., Akron.
Tom Gaffney can be reached at tgaffney@thebeaconjournal.com.
Sam Serves, a former basketball standout at the University of Akron who later became a successful area businessman, died Sunday at Akron General Medical Center after a long illness. He was 86.
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