BOWLING GREEN RAISING FUNDS FOR COTTON FITZSIMMONS MEMORIAL STATUE

BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — The City of Bowling Green is asking the community to help create a permanent downtown tribute to one of Pike County’s most accomplished native sons — legendary basketball coach Cotton Fitzsimmons.

The city is raising private donations for a life-size bronze statue of Fitzsimmons that would be placed on the southwest corner of the downtown square beside the Bowling Green Annex Building. According to city officials, no taxpayer money will be used for the project. Businesses and individuals donating $1,000 or more will receive permanent recognition on a bronze plaque attached to the monument.

The current fundraising goal is $80,000, according to promotional material released for the project, with $16,600 raised so far.

For younger generations who may not immediately recognize the name, Lowell “Cotton” Fitzsimmons became one of the most respected coaches in professional basketball — but his story began in Bowling Green.

Fitzsimmons was born in Hannibal in 1931 and grew up in Bowling Green, graduating from Bowling Green High School. His familiar nickname reportedly came from classmates who called him “Cotton” because of his light-colored hair. After his father died while Fitzsimmons was still a child, Bowling Green basketball coach James A. Wilson became an important mentor in his life.

At just 5-foot-7, Fitzsimmons was hardly built like the stereotypical basketball star, but he helped Bowling Green reach the Missouri state basketball tournament twice. After high school, he worked at a brick plant near Farber before eventually attending Hannibal-LaGrange, where he became a junior college All-American and averaged more than 25 points per game.

His coaching career began in Missouri at Moberly Junior College in 1958. Over nine seasons, Fitzsimmons compiled a remarkable 223-59 record and finished his tenure by winning back-to-back NJCAA national championships in 1966 and 1967. He later became head coach at Kansas State, guiding the Wildcats to a Big Eight Conference championship in 1970.

Fitzsimmons then began a lengthy NBA career that included coaching the Phoenix Suns, Atlanta Hawks, Buffalo Braves, Kansas City Kings and San Antonio Spurs. He accumulated 832 NBA victories during 21 seasons as a head coach and was twice selected NBA Coach of the Year.

He became particularly identified with the Phoenix Suns, coaching the franchise during three different periods and later serving in the organization in other roles. The Suns eventually placed Fitzsimmons in their Ring of Honor, and the organization has honored his 832 career NBA victories.

Fitzsimmons died in 2004 following a battle with lung cancer. His basketball legacy received its highest recognition when he was posthumously elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2021.

Bowling Green Mayor Tom Thompson has said the statue is intended to do more than commemorate basketball history. He hopes it gives children growing up in Bowling Green a tangible reminder that someone from their own hometown rose to the highest levels of his profession.

Plans call for the 5-foot-7 statue to sit on a pedestal bringing the overall monument to approximately ten feet — the same height as a basketball rim. Thompson has said organizers hope to have the project completed by late spring or early summer of 2027.

Perhaps the strongest connection between Fitzsimmons and the community can be found in his own words. Throughout his career, he continued to speak proudly of Bowling Green and Pike County as his home and heritage.

Now, more than two decades after his death, Bowling Green hopes to make sure future generations know exactly who Cotton Fitzsimmons was — and that one of basketball’s most successful coaches started right here in Pike County.

Those wishing to support the project may contribute through the City of Bowling Green’s Cotton Fitzsimmons statue fundraising effort.