Marvin Webster lived the good life at Morgan State University in the early 1970s. He was the "Human Eraser," a 7-foot-1 shot blocker who intimidated opponents on the basketball court and who charmed friends and teammates off it with his caring, selfless personality.
Webster lived another life altogether, though, after he left Morgan for professional basketball in 1975. He quickly became one of the game's best big men and enjoyed a 10-year career. But there was tribulation during his career - dealing with hepatitis and liver disease - and after it, coping with the death of an ex-wife who was 39 and a son only 19.
The final chapter of Webster's life was written last weekend in a Tulsa, Okla., hotel, where he had sequestered himself on another of his many trips to see the country.
Nine days short of his 57th birthday, he was found dead in his hotel bathtub Monday. Hotel employees had not seen him since Saturday. The preliminary cause of death was related to coronary artery disease, said W. Charles Bennett, a longtime friend, former agent and current financial adviser for Webster.
The official cause of death will be determined after an autopsy by the Oklahoma state medical examiner's office.
Former teammates from Morgan's 1974 NCAA Division II national championship team were stunned to hear the news this week, but they were well aware of Webster's continuing health issues.
"Marvin was the nicest guy on our team," Joe McIver, assistant director of athletics at Morgan and a member of the 1974 team, said Wednesday. "For his life to go the way it did seems very unfair.
"He cared about everybody on our team. We were all happy for him; he deserved to be drafted and all the accolades he received. But the life he lived seemed like a tough life."
Webster starred at Edmondson High after growing up in Baltimore, and he played from 1972 to 1975 at Morgan, where he was renowned for his shot-blocking. In the 1974 championship season, he averaged 21 points, 22.4 rebounds and eight blocked shots.
His career totals of 1,990 points and 2,267 rebounds are still school records.
"He controlled games," said Nat Frazier, Webster's coach. "One of my colleagues once said if he had Marvin, he would score 40 points a game. Marvin could've scored 40 points a game for us, but he was a tremendous team player. He averaged 20 [points] and 20 [rebounds]. He incorporated his game into the team game.
"I was a very fortunate coach to have him."
