"I cut Hot Rod\'s hair when he broadcast in Phoenix with Al McCoy. He had me on a pre game interview and we created an all NBA hair team.....best hair worst hair etc. This was the Dr J era..long hair was the fashion in those days. Had lots of laughs together. He won\'t be forgotten. It was a great service on Saturday and great tributes..The family did a great job and a fitting tribute to one of a kind...the barber"
In loving memory of
Rodney Hundley
Rodney Clark Hundley, a true basketball legend, died March 27, 2015, surrounded by his daughters in Phoenix at Hospice of the Valley. "Hot Rod" was known for a lot of things - his rise from abandonment and poverty to success and fame, his flashy style of play at West Virginia University that earned him his nickname, garnering the top spot in the NBA's 1957 draft, a respectable run with the Los Angeles Lakers, his gravelly call-it-like-I see-it commentary with the Lakers, Phoenix Suns and New Orleans and Utah Jazz, and an indomitable zest for life that colored every moment of his time on this earth. It's hard to top the words that beloved family friend and sportscaster Jim Nantz sent the Hundley girls last week, so here they are: "What an amazing journey it has been for Hot Rod. The kid from West Virginia to a basketball superstar to a broadcasting legend to a dad who was more proud of his girls than anything in his life. He made a lot of people happy, brought a lot of laughter and energy and life to all of us who were so fortunate to pass his way." A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 4, at Moon Valley Country Club, 151 W. Moon Valley Drive, Phoenix. Rod was 80 when he passed, and he is survived by his daughters Kimberly Hundley of Phoenix, Jacqueline Hundley of Los Angeles, and Jennifer Hundley of Phoenix; his son-in-law, David Larchez of Phoenix; and his grandsons, Tanner Hundley and Rodney Cole of Phoenix. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Hot Rod Hundley's Walk to End Alzheimer's page: act.alz.org/goto/HotRodHundley.
Tributes
"Rod and I have been friends for over 60 years. We were teammates, roommates and neighbors. I will truly miss the big guy! ! !"
"I went to Thomas Jefferson Jr. High and Charleston High Schools with Rodney and had classes with him. He was always nice and friendly to everyone, knew my older brother and family and remembered me when he came to our CHS 60th class reunion 2 years ago. He took the time to talk to everyone there and have pictures taken with us. He was such a good basketball player and already a star by the time he graduated from Jr. High. I was always very proud him. My sincere condolences to his family."
"Condolences to family and friends. I played with and against Hot Rod at the YMCA in Chaleston and watched him grow as a player at Chalestron High, WVU and the NBA. Rest in peace, fellow basketballer."
"A great contributor to the game of basketball. He was informative and funny. He had passion for this great game. We pray for Hot Rod and his family."
"All of West Virginia will miss him."
"Hi Kimberly, Condolences to you and your family. I most remember Hot Rod from a lunchtime 1980\'s pick-up basketball game at the Crossroads gym in downtown SLC. The game went on for several years. Your dad was a frequent player. He could have completely dominated that game with his world class skill set - but he didn\'t. He almost never shot. He always played point guard and fed the ball to a bunch of aging guys like myself. He was just one of the guys in that environment. Kept a low profile, and seemed to enjoy that role. One afternoon back then, I mentioned that you and my then girlfriend, Vicky Crocco, were close friends. He lit up like a Christmas tree. I saw Jim Nantz\'s comment, \"a dad who was more proud of his girls than anything in his life.\" That was my impression also. May you rest in peace, Mr. Hundley."