One of the greatest players in Millersville basketball history during the John A. Pucillo coaching era,
George "Hank" Ehemann was a member of four consecutive Pennsylvania State Teachers College Conference championship teams from 1936-37 to 1939-40.
Ehemann’s prodigious talents and skills on the hardwood earned him notoriety statewide. He was an Associated Press All-Pennsylvania College Basketball 1st Team selection in his senior season (1939-40), and was an all-state second team choice as a junior (1938-39). His one-handed jump shot set him apart from his peers, and he was compared to Stanford legend Hank Luisetti by fans and media alike.
In a memorable contest at the old Lancaster Armory in 1938, the 6'4" Ehemann scored 25 points against Coach Clair Bee’s legendary Long Island University team in a 56-43 ‘Ville defeat--a remarkable feat versus a national power of the time. And, he limited famed LIU center Arthur Hillhouse to only two baskets in a head-to-head matchup.
An unselfish competitor, Ehemann earned praise from friend and foe alike. Said Bee in the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal after the ‘38 game, "This fellow Ehemann is a big-timer all the way. He could make my team anytime. (He) has a a marvelous shot in that side toss of his, and he was actually unbeatable. The only way you could stop him was to foul him."
Or this, from West Chester icon Glenn Killinger: "He is just about untouchable." Or this from his classmate, friend, and fellow MU Athletic Hall of Famer Chuck Meole: "George Ehemann was an exceptional individual, a great team basketball player, and an exceptional role model."
In 1938-39, Ehemann led the Marauders in scoring (13.9 ppg) and bettered that mark in his senior season, scoring 306 points for a 17.0 ppg mark--a Marauder single season mark at the time.
A two-time Pennsylvania State Teachers College Conference Player of the Year, Ehemann averaged 14.5 points per game during his sparkling career and scored 929 points--an all-time record that stood until teammate Lyman "Dutch" Reifsnyder broke the mark two years later (1,027 points).
Thanks to his standout post play, Millersville amassed a 52-12 record (.813 win ratio) in Ehemann’s career, and the Marauders excelled in conference play with a 39-5 mark.
After he obtained his bachelor of science degree in industrial arts from MSTC, Ehemann went on to a long and distinguished career (41 years, 1940 to 1981) as a teacher (industrial arts, science, and physical education), boys’ basketball coach (20 seasons), and administrator (assistant principal) at Manheim Township High School. He also served as an adjunct professor at Millersville.
A World War II veteran (U.S. Navy with service in the Atlantic theater), the Lancaster native began his playing career in youth church leagues, and eventually earned all-star acclaim scholastically at Lancaster High School. Following graduation, Ehemann also played semi-professional basketball with the Lancaster Red Roses.
He passed away in 1991. He is survived by his wife, Mary M. Ehemann, and four children: George Ehemann Jr., Judith Deichart, David A. Ehemann, and Mary Ann Rieker.
