SEATTLE – (Mar. 28) Seattle University Athletics lost a dear member of its family in the passing of Hall of Famer Steve Looney, ’68 on Sunday, March 26.
A memorial service will take place on Saturday, April 1 at 4 p.m. at the Seattle Tennis Club located at 922 McGilvra Blvd. E., Seattle, WA 98112. The service is open to the public.
“Steve Looney was a beloved Seattle U Hall of Famer,” said Assistant Vice President for Athletics Advancement Bill Hogan. “He was a terrific guard during the Glory Days of Seattle U men’s basketball back in the 1960s. He was one of the most popular individuals in the city of Seattle as he made friends easily with just about anyone. Steve was a great ambassador for Seattle U Athletics since our return to NCAAA Division I and played a key role in connecting SU athletic staff with key donors in the area. He will be missed.”
A two-sport athlete at Seattle U, Looney was an integral part of the men’s basketball legacy during the mid–1960s, immediately earned a starting role as a guard. During his three-year varsity career, he averaged 12.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. In his sophomore season, Looney shot 52.6 percent from the field and 75.3 percent from the free-throw line. He helped Seattle U defeat Texas Western for that squad’s only loss on its way to the NCAA title in its “Glory Road” season. As a junior, he averaged 11.6 points per game as the team went 18–8 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. In Looney’s senior season, he averaged 12.9 points per game and led the team to a strong finish, winning nine of the final 10 games of the season.
“Steve was a two-sport athlete who was as good at baseball as he was basketball and was a key part of our basketball program’s success,” said men’s basketball teammate and fellow SU Hall of Famer, Tom Workman, ’67. “He was a great person, he was a great teammate and he was a great friend for 52 years. We will miss his ‘loon’-acy and his camaraderie.”
Looney was inducted into the Seattle University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013. He remained connected to the University as a member of the Athletics Hall of Fame committee and was a longtime donor to men’s basketball, volleyball and baseball.
“Steve was a very special friend since the late 1960’s,” said SU Hall of Famer and SU Athletics Development Officer, John Dougherty, ’66. “He loved Seattle University and was a Hall of Fame basketball player who was a leader in supporting Seattle U Athletics.”