Lou Mitchell made his mark as a superb player at Newark High School and Denison University, and he continued to influence the game after his playing days ended. On completion of his career at Denison in 1957, Mitchell was considered the finest basketball player in the history of the school. He averaged 20 points and 14 rebounds a game over four years and led the Ohio Conference in scoring and rebounding twice. In 1966, he obtained a North American Basketball League franchise for Columbus and served as general manager/coach for the team that included former Ohio State players. As a partner in a Cleveland investment firm, he assisted in raising the initial capital for the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise. He served on the club’s board of directors for 10 years. In 1994, he donated the Mitchell Athletic Center to Denison. Lou Mitchell died on June 24, 2012.