Milan Star Recieves Honor At Hinkle Fieldhouse

Plump will remain forever synonymous with the arena where Milan's basketball legend began.
Plump remains synonymous with the arena where Milan’s basketball legend began.

With seconds left on the clock, he hit a game winning shot that brought Milan a state basketball championship in 1954.

Now Bobby Plump, will remain forever associated with Hinkle Fieldhouse, formerly known as Butler Fieldhouse, where the famous shot was made.

Through a donation to the Hinkle Campaign in Plump’s name, the southwest concourse ramp of the arena has been renamed after the Milan legend.

The $50,000 donation is part of a fundraising effort that has netted $17.1 million to preserve the arena and improve facilities for Butler athletes and fans.

Growing up in Milan, Tom Kohlmeier heard about the 1954 team that inspired the movie “Hoosiers.”

It was Kohlmeier who led the way to get the concourse renamed after the former Indian star.

On Sunday, a dedication ceremony featuring Plump, Bobby “Slick” Leonard, Butler President James Danko, former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and screenwriter of “Hoosiers” Angelo Pizzo was held at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

After his career at Milan, Plump went on to play at Butler and was later inducted into the school’s hall of fame.