Even Hospice Can’t Discourage Ex-Gopher & Laker Great

 

Charley Mencel is in hospice now. He is the former University of Minnesota All-American guard from the 1950s and last living member of the Minneapolis Lakers.

Charley, 92, resides in a senior facility in Rogers with his wife of 72 years, Ann.  He has multiple health issues including balance which restricts his mobility to a wheelchair and walker.  He has atrial fibrillation and other cardio problems. A catheter is his daily companion and part of ongoing urinary issues.

There is also blood in his urine, but Charley and Ann have decided not to pursue tests.  He has been hospitalized in the past and doesn’t want to return.  “This is a nice place to finish. I’ve had one happy life,” he told Sports Headliners on Monday.

Charley has been in hospice before. Although he is again in that late-life care mode, he and Ann report his health has improved of late.

How about Charley’s attitude?

A+.

“This positive man will not complain about anything,” Ann said.

If there was a dark time in Charley’s life it occurred while he was a boy growing up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  His dad got caught up in an insurance scheme and was an alcoholic with behavior issues.  A divorce forced Charley’s mother to work two jobs, one during the day and the other at night.

She bought Charley a membership at the YMCA and told him to go there if he didn’t have anything to do or some place to be.  He found mentors at the YMCA and sometimes was all alone in the gym where he shot basket after basket.

He credits his lifelong positive outlook on life to his mom’s influence.  She was a role model and sacrificed for him and his two sisters.  “It was a good life because of her. For sure,” Charley said.

It’s been a good life, too, because of Ann.  They were high school sweethearts in Eau Claire. Charley said a first kiss sealed the relationship forever.

Asked what a 92^nd Christmas will mean to him, he answered it’s been a “blessing to live that long” and particularly sharing his life with Ann.

“That’s pretty hard to top that one, and it’s been a joy to watch our family develop,” Charley said. “We have three kids, two daughters and a son, seven grandkids and now we have 18 great grandkids.

“So, the family has just bloomed and exploded during our lifetime, and they bring us just so much joy.  You gotta say, ‘Thank you God, for that blessing.’ ”

Ann and Charley are members of Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina.  Every Sunday at 11 a.m. they watch services on YouTube. “I am still a Christian,” said Charley who grew up going to a Presbyterian church.

Ann showed a visitor a calendar of activities that fill their days.  There are many things to do at the facility where they reside and there are aides who come daily to check on Charley.  A chaplain visits weekly and so does a music therapist.

Charley’s mom played the piano, and his dad played the trombone.  Sundays found them entertaining at polka gatherings.

Charley used to play the trumpet.  His favorite song is Amazing Grace and after he sang it passionately for a visitor it was a reminder why he and Ann talk about music being so important for human souls.

On Christmas Day the two will go to daughter Deborah’s house.  She has rented a ramp to her residence.  In anticipation, Charley chuckled about being able to “roll right up” the ramp in his wheelchair.

What does he want for Christmas?  “I want to celebrate a 100^th birthday,” said Charley who turns 93 on April 21.

Charley created a five-point philosophy about life that he readily shares with others.  He came up with it a few years ago and joked that a man creates such things when he has plenty of time to sit and contemplate life.

The following things are what he tries to live by: 1. Make good choices; 2. Have a good attitude every day; 3. Bring joy to all your relationships; 4. Be patient; 5. Love your neighbor.

It’s no secret among basketball historians that Charley is the last of the Minneapolis Lakers.  He receives autograph requests each month as fans reach out wanting to acknowledge his place in NBA history.  About one year ago the Czech Basketball Federation honored him and a select number of others with the Fatherland of Excellence Award because of his Czech heritage and footprint he made on the game of basketball including as an early NBA player.

A second-round draft choice in 1955, Charley played two seasons for the Lakers.  In his second season, 1956-1957, the 6-foot, 170-pound guard was a starter, playing in 72 games and averaging 9.2 points.  After that he spent two years fulfilling his military obligation and never again played for the Lakers who relocated to Los Angeles after the 1959-1960 season.

In Charley’s NBA era, players had offseason jobs to supplement their basketball income.  He made $5,000 to play for the Lakers.  He guessed that the great George Mikan, the Lakers superstar center who was named Mr. Basketball for the first half century, earned $8,000.

Now, even if he were a college a player Charley would make millions.  Of course, he would have liked that kind of money, but he talks about what the U did for him, providing an education, basketball opportunity and friendships.

As a freshman player at the U, coach Ozzie Cowles introduced him to local businessman Herman Lange because he knew he would be a welcome mentor for Charley.  After the Lakers, it was Lange who helped Charley become a business executive with Twin Cities companies.

Cowles recruited Charley to Minnesota, telling him a starting guard spot as a freshman could happen.  Badgers coach Bud Foster didn’t like the idea of playing freshmen.  That ended any possibility of going to Madison and playing for his home state Badgers.

Ironically, in Charley’s last season, 1954-1955, the Badgers beat the Gophers in the final game of the season.  The defeat left Minnesota with a 10-4 conference record and ended the possibility of tying 11-3 Iowa for the Big Ten championship.  Always looking for the positive, Charley points out that during his college career Minnesota won five of seven games against the Badgers.

The Gophers had an earlier opportunity to establish ground in the Big Ten race when they played Iowa at Williams Arena on February 28, 1955.   The fire marshal looked the other way, and a then record college basketball crowd of over 20,000 rocked the arena in one of the most famous games in U history.

The Gophers had defeated Iowa earlier in the season in Iowa City, 81-80.  In the rematch it was so close again with Minnesota losing, 72-70, in a back-and-forth game.  Mencel led the Gophers in scoring with 27 points in what might have been the best game of his career at Minnesota.

Back in the day the Big Ten only allowed one team to go to the NCAA Tournament. So, the second place Gophers, who that winter had been ranked No. 6 in the country, stayed home while Iowa finished third in the tournament which was won by Bill Russell and San Francisco.

Charley’s No. 30 jersey was retired by the U on January 26, 2011.  A banner hangs in the rafters at Williams Arena commemorating his great career.  He is also a member of the M Club Hall of Fame.

With 1,391 points, he averaged 15.1 points per game during his career. He left Dinkytown holding five different school scoring records.

Charley was All-Big Ten and All-American as a collegian.  For the 1955 season, Mencel was awarded the Chicago Tribune’s Silver Basketball Award as the Big Ten’s MVP.

In the four years prior to Charley’s Gopher career the team was 25-25 in league games.  During his four seasons Minnesota was 41-19 in conference games, finishing third three times and second his last season.

Throughout Charley’s long life he has been an extraordinary Gopher supporter. In addition to being a longtime season ticket purchaser and avid fan, he was co-chairman for the remodeling of Williams Arena years ago and he endowed a basketball scholarship.

There’s so much to celebrate about Charley and his basketball life, business success and beloved family.  No wonder every day at 4 p.m. he and Ann enjoy a glass of wine—or maybe two.

The doctor told him no more Scotch.  “I loved Scotch,” Charley said.

Cheers to Charley and Ann!