Willie Sojourner

Willard Leon Sojourner (September 10, 1948 – October 20, 2005) was an American basketball player and international coach. Born in to George and Dorothy Sojourner, he was one of the couple's eleven children. He attended Germantown High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he concentrated on swimming and track and did not play basketball until his senior year. He was a medalist in the backstroke and butterfly and a talented high jumper, but both his father and the high school basketball coach encouraged him to give up competitive swimming and focus on basketball because of his size. His inexperience left him lightly recruited by colleges, and he went on to play collegiately at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah.

Sojourner had a professional career that included a championship with the New York Nets, and he also played overseas. He later worked as an international coach. The Italian arena PalaSojourner was named in his honor. He is credited with giving his friend and teammate Julius Erving the nickname "Dr. J." Sojourner was the older brother of NBA player Mike Sojourner. He died on October 20, 2005.