Ernie Fortney

Ernest Francis Fortney


Born:
January 6, 1915  
Pittsburgh, PA

Died:
October 11, 1987
Palm Coast, FL    

Career
1936-37 Duquesne University (College)
1937-38 Duquesne University (College)
1938-39 Pittsburgh Pirates (NBL)
1939-40 Akron Collegians (Independent)
1940-41 Akron Collegians (Independent)
1941-42 Akron Collegians (Independent) 
1942-43 Akron Collegians (Independent)
1943-44 Akron Goodyears (Independent) 
1945-46 Youngstown Bears (NBL)
1946-47 Akron Goodyears (Independent)
1947-48 Akron Collegians (Independent)

Another mystery player. Played in two seasons with a huge gap. Went to Duquesne. So here we go. Searching for Fortney, I came across an obituary for Leanoir Fortney, who met her husband Ernest F. Fortney, while attending Duquesne and the pair married in 1938. This looks like him. Years are right, residing in Eastern Ohio is geographically accurate.

Leanoir's obituary:
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ohio/obituary.aspx?n=leanoir-r-fortney&pid=147576839


The couple had four children: Ernest Jr., Rebecca, Timothy and Dennis.

Timothy was born in Cornish, NH, on Sept 22, 1948, in Windsor, VT. This document shows his birth info, including his father's birthplace.
http://www.mocavo.com/Annual-Report-Cornish-New-Hampshire-1948-Volume-1948/427800/84

Page 2 of this document might contain Fortney bio information, but it would not load when I found it.
http://cdm15960.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p15960coll3/id/51678

Parents MAY be Ernest and Mary Shenkel Fortney??

Couldn't find an Ernest Fortney on SSDI that fit the dates and location, but then search for "Fortney died 1987", and found this:
http://death-records.mooseroots.com/l/111364805/E-F-Fortney

After speaking with Ernest's son on the phone, I have confirmed his identity.

Death Record

Stats:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/nbl/players/f/fortner01n.html
http://www.justsportsstats.com/basketballstatsindex.php?player_id=fortner01