Marvin Noel Reichle, University of Houston professor emeritus and basketball player, died Feb.10 at age 82.
Reichle taught at UH for more than 30 years in the Health and Human Performance Department, and many of his students were athletes who went on to careers in the NBA and NFL.
"Marvin was a real gentleman, very personable and a friend of all who knew him," said Stuart Long, UH electrical and computer engineering professor.
His son, Randy Reichle, told The Houston Chronicle that his father loved Cougar sports.
"It would take an act of war or a major, major illness for him to miss a Cougars’ basketball or football game. He was always there," Randy Reichle told The Houston Chronicle.
Reichle was born on Dec. 29, 1925 and attended Reagan High School, where he earned All-City stature in football and basketball. After graduating in 1942, he served in Army Air Corps during World War II, but never saw combat.
After his duty in the Air Corps, Reichle came to UH in 1947 and became the first four-year basketball letterman for the Cougars.
Reichle loved the game of basketball, and while teaching at UH he joined a faculty-staff pickup game, which began in the 1960s and continues to this day.
"It is known to its participants as the ‘NBA,’ which stands for the ‘Noontime Basketball Association,’" Long said. "Marvin played in this game from its inception in the 1960s through the time of his retirement a few years ago. He was one of quite a few ex-Cougar varsity players that became regulars in this game."
Professor emeritus Ted Stanton said Reichle was still a great player into his 60s.
"I didn’t really know him outside the gym, but over the years all of us who have played have become pretty good friends," Stanton said. "(He) still was a good shooter, even as his knees began to slow him down. He was also a good passer and a very clever player – really knew the game well."
Reichle worked for St. Pius X High School as the football team’s "Voice of Pantherland" for 12 years. He also was part of the School Board as the president and bazaar chairman.
Reichle’s daughter, Becky Holder, told The Houston Chronicle that her father got his doctorate from Texas A’M and as a part of his doctoral dissertation he made and certified the first standardized test for boating safety for the U.S. Coast Guard in 1976.
After retiring in 1993, Reichle moved to Columbus and spent the last 15 years of his life there. UH mechanical engineering professor Charles Dalton said Reichle spent most of his time in Columbus reading and at the library.
"I have a friend in Columbus who has a jazz concert at his home twice a year," Dalton said. "My wife and I attend it. I had seen Marvin there several times. We reminisced about UH."
Two gatherings took place in his memory Saturday, one at St. Pius X High School and one at his home. Those left behind have loving memories of Reichle.
"If I could say one thing about him, I would say that he was a friend and gentleman," Dalton said. "How many people have you known about whom you can say those two things?"
