Jim Horne 2018

Athlete
Emerson ‘51   Horne  

Jim is a 1951 graduate of Emerson High School where he starred in basketball and track and field.  As a senior, he paced Emerson to a Yale Cup Championship, and attracted considerable attention from college scouts.  Representatives from Union College (Albany), Syracuse, and Niagara came courting, but family considerations   led Horne to accept a full athletic scholarship to the University of Buffalo.

 

 Jim made an immediate impact, establishing a freshman scoring record of 374 points   and contributing significantly to a then school record 18-win season.  Jim’s sophomore season was even more auspicious, as he not only led the Bulls in scoring, but received his first of three selections to the All-District team and first of two selections to the All-Auditorium team.  In addition, Jim was recognized by his own school with the annual Dominic Grossi Award bestowed upon the athlete who has made the greatest contribution to the UB athletic program, and with the inaugural Dr.  James J. Ailinger Award as outstanding player of the year.  Jim retained both of these distinctive awards in his junior and senior years, and also served as team captain those two seasons.

 

 Jim’s career as a four-year starter featured eleven school scoring records, including most points in a game (41) and career (1,833).  The UB Athletic Hall of Fame opened its doors for Jim in 1966, and in 1966, the University retired his jersey, number 13.  While Jim inherited that number reluctantly as a youngster, he wore it proudly throughout a career, which appeared ironically blessed by the “unlucky” digits.   

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