MOBILE, Ala. – The Spring Hill College (SHC) Department of Athletics passes along its sincerest condolences to the family of Badger alumnus and athletic star Jules "Stormy" Mugnier upon news of his passing earlier this week at the age of 89. A baseball and basketball standout at SHC under head coach Bill Gardiner, Mugnier led the Badgers to the Gulf States Conference basketball championship in 1952 while also earning league MVP honors.
 
Upon graduation, Mugnier received an invitation to the New York Yankees' Baseball School in Branson, Mo., but another Boston professional franchise had already taken notice of his achievements. The Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Red Auerbach, one of the greatest talent evaluators the NBA has ever seen, selected Mugnier in the eighth round of the 1952 NBA draft.
 
Professional basketball would have to wait for Mugnier, however, as the US military drafted him into service in the Korean Conflict where he spent one year of his then two-year obligation.
 
But Auerbach had kept tabs on his hidden gem and soon after his discharge Mugnier went to a workout with the Celtics. By this time, Mugnier was married with two children and despite the temptation to play in the professional ranks, he accepted steady employment with the Phillips Petroleum Corporation that had earlier offered him a position with their team in the National Industrial Basketball League (NIBL), the Ada Oilers in Houston, Texas.
 
Unfortunately, within a few years, the management and stockholders in Phillips disbanded the team due to financial considerations and Mugnier returned to Mobile, his flirtations with professional sports behind him.
 
Mugnier eventually became involved in recreational sports such as tennis, golf, and fast-pitch softball. Though he had never had a lesson, he began winning amateur tennis tournaments, eventually ranking first in doubles in the Southern Tennis Association (STA) and rising as high as ninth nationally. He would win the first flight in golf tournaments and even got his handicap down to two or three. Mugnier would become one of the best fast-pitch softball players in the city, earning an even more legendary status for his achievements in his later years.
 
A member of both the Mobile Sports (Class of 2002) and SHC Athletic (Class of 1973) Halls of Fame, Mugnier currently stands tied for 16^th place on the SHC men's basketball career scoring list with 1,355 points scored between 1948 and 1952.