Marshall University Athletics
Marshall Athletics Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1986
- Class:
- 1947
Mervin Gutshall’s Marshall basketball career was divided into two segments because of service in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II, but he was welcomed back by Coach Cam Henderson after the war and became a key component of the 1947 NAIB national champs. A native of Coalton, W.Va., where he had been an all-state basketball player in high school and the all-time scoring leader in the history of Coalton High School, the 6-foot guard was a member of Marshall teams that went a combined 25-16 in the 1941-42 and 1942-43 seasons before being called to service that included being a part of the invasion forces for Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. Gutshall was released from his military duties in time to rejoin Henderson’s squad for its 1947 run to the national title, averaging 9.1 points per game for the team that logged a 32-5 record and NAIB Tournament title in Kansas City, Mo. In the NAIB quarterfinals round win over Eastern Washington, Gutshall was Marshall's top scorer with 20 points. He was named a member of the All-Tournament team and received honorable mention All-American accolades. Gutshall also was a pitcher for the Marshall baseball teams of 1941, ‘42 and ‘47.
Gutshall passed up an opportunity to play in the fledgling National Basketball Association to take a more secure future of playing for the Peoria (Ill.) Cats of the National Industrial Basketball League, a team sponsored by the heavy equipment company Caterpillar. After representing Caterpillar in the industrial basketball and baseball leagues for several seasons, Gutshall retired as a player and returned to his native Elkins, taking over a sales territory for Caterpillar equipment in the mining industry. His son, Mervin Jr., played basketball at North Carolina State. Gutshall was inducted into the Marshall Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.
