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University of New Hampshire Athletics
Men’s Basketball Mourns the Passing of UNH Hall of Famer Billy Pappas ‘55
3/29/2023 5:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire men's basketball program mourns the loss of former student-athlete and UNH Athletics Hall of Fame member William "Billy" Pappas (Manchester, N.H.).
OBITUARY
From 1952-55, Pappas averaged 18.9 points per game, the fourth-best scoring average in program history, and cemented himself as one of the best players in the history of UNH men's basketball. He scored 1,228 points in his four years at UNH, the 13th most in program history.
His 334 free throws made rank him third all-time for a Wildcat career, even holding a 70-year-old record for attempting 25 free throws in a game on December 2, 1953, vs. Bowdoin. In the 1954-55 season Pappas attempted 230 free throws, the most ever by a Wildcat in a single season. His 21.0 PPG in the 1953-54 campaign is the sixth-best scoring mark in a season for the 'Cats.
Along with his outstanding basketball career at UNH, he was also a member of the football team, even being named an All-American for his quarterback play in the 1954 season. When he graduated in 1955 with his bachelor's degree in Sociology, Pappas went on to join the Air Force before retiring as a captain.
Pappas worked in Frankfurt, Germany in 1960 for Duty Free International before opening the Goblers Knob Restaurant in Manhattan in 1968. In later years, Billy worked in the New Hampshire community helping student-athletes as a board member of the Joe Yukia-NH Chapter of the National Football Foundation. He also volunteered his time serving many organizations including the Manchester YMCA and the Manchester Historic Association.
He is survived by his wife Toni, brother Harry Pappas, sister Georgia Bratsos and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation for Billy will be held Monday, April 3rd from 4 to 7 PM at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 4th at St. George Cathedral, 650 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH at 10 AM followed by interment with military honors at Pine Grove Cemetery, 765 Brown Avenue, Manchester NH. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorial contributions to be made in honor of Billy Pappas to the UNH Football team or UNH men's basketball program and mailed to UNH Foundation, Elliot Alumni Center, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH 03824 or to the Manchester Historic Association, 200 Bedford St, Manchester, NH 03101
OBITUARY
From 1952-55, Pappas averaged 18.9 points per game, the fourth-best scoring average in program history, and cemented himself as one of the best players in the history of UNH men's basketball. He scored 1,228 points in his four years at UNH, the 13th most in program history.
His 334 free throws made rank him third all-time for a Wildcat career, even holding a 70-year-old record for attempting 25 free throws in a game on December 2, 1953, vs. Bowdoin. In the 1954-55 season Pappas attempted 230 free throws, the most ever by a Wildcat in a single season. His 21.0 PPG in the 1953-54 campaign is the sixth-best scoring mark in a season for the 'Cats.
Along with his outstanding basketball career at UNH, he was also a member of the football team, even being named an All-American for his quarterback play in the 1954 season. When he graduated in 1955 with his bachelor's degree in Sociology, Pappas went on to join the Air Force before retiring as a captain.
Pappas worked in Frankfurt, Germany in 1960 for Duty Free International before opening the Goblers Knob Restaurant in Manhattan in 1968. In later years, Billy worked in the New Hampshire community helping student-athletes as a board member of the Joe Yukia-NH Chapter of the National Football Foundation. He also volunteered his time serving many organizations including the Manchester YMCA and the Manchester Historic Association.
He is survived by his wife Toni, brother Harry Pappas, sister Georgia Bratsos and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation for Billy will be held Monday, April 3rd from 4 to 7 PM at Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 4th at St. George Cathedral, 650 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH at 10 AM followed by interment with military honors at Pine Grove Cemetery, 765 Brown Avenue, Manchester NH. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorial contributions to be made in honor of Billy Pappas to the UNH Football team or UNH men's basketball program and mailed to UNH Foundation, Elliot Alumni Center, 9 Edgewood Road, Durham, NH 03824 or to the Manchester Historic Association, 200 Bedford St, Manchester, NH 03101
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