Urgel Wintermute (July 9, 1917 – October 1977) earned the nickname “Slim” thanks to his lean 6-foot-8 frame. He was notable for being the tallest college player on the West Coast in the late 1930’s and was a key member of the “Tall Firs”, the University of Oregon’s NCAA Championship team of
1939.
Born in 1917, Wintermute was born in Portland and grew up in Longview, Washington, and was recruited to Eugene by incoming coach Howard Hobson along with Wally Johansen, Bobby Anet and Laddie Gale. That group played under freshman coach John Warren. When Slim and this group reached the varsity team in 1936, the Ducks became the dominant team in the Pacific Coast Conference’s Northern Division, winning three consecutive division titles.
In 1939, Wintermute, whose size helped the Ducks earn the “Tall Firs” nickname, led the team to the first NCAA Tournament title. Wintermute was selected All-America in 1938 and ’39. He was the second-leading scorer in the Northern Division in 1939 but was also known as an excellent defender and rebounder. Slim grabbed 32 boards in one game at Washington.
After graduation, Wintermute played professionally for Detroit in the National Basketball League. In 1946, he became the player/coach of the Portland Indians in the Pacific Coast Basketball League.
Following his playing career, he moved to Seattle and worked for Boeing. Wintermute was inducted into the University of Oregon Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994.