Larry “Tex” Silverman, a former GW men’s basketball star and namesake of the Smith Center court, died of cancer March 26 at Sibley Memorial Hospital at 76 years old.

Silverman was a standout player at GW for coach Bill Reinhart before graduating in 1953. Silverman, at 6 foot 3, was drafted into the Army and NBA but entered the service for the Korean War.

He last attended a game against Charlotte in what turned out to be a thrilling season closer.

Silverman is a member of the George Washington Athletic Hall of Fame.