A beloved figure among former Portland Trail Blazers players and a member of the original team from the inaugural 1970-71 season has lost his battle with cancer.
Dale Schlueter, one of the first centers to wear the Trail Blazers uniform, died today at his home surrounded by family and loved ones at age 68.
A Pacific Northwest native, Schlueter was first drafted into the NBA out of Colorado State University in 1967 by the San Francisco Warriors.
He was later acquired by the expansion Trail Blazers in 1970 and played under the team’s first coach, Rolland Todd. That first Trail Blazers team finished 29-53 -- the best of the three new teams entering the NBA that same year (Buffalo and Cleveland).
Schlueter averaged 8.2 points and was the team’s second-leading rebounder with a total of 629. Overall, Schlueter played three seasons for the Trail Blazers, 1970-72, and 1977-78.
Schlueter retired from professional sports in 1978, but remained an active member of the Trail Blazers family through his work in the community. As recently as last season, Schlueter still frequently led Trail Blazers ambassadors and alumni on appearances and fan visits around the Moda Center on game nights.
Information about a celebration of life for Schlueter and other arrangements is still forthcoming from the Schlueter family and the Trail Blazers.