January 18, 1967

El Dorado (Union County) native Reece “Goose” Tatum died in El Paso, Texas. Tatum excelled at two sports, baseball and basketball, but is most famous for his basketball career with the Harlem Globetrotters. Known as “Goose” for his comic walk and for his exceptionally wide arm span, he is remembered more for his comic antics in games than for his athletic ability and accomplishments, which were considerable. Tatum was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1974. Tatum’s jersey, No. 50, was retired on February 8, 2002, sixty years after his first season. His was the fourth number the Globetrotters had retired. On the same occasion, he was entered into the Globetrotters’ “Legends” Ring at Madison Square Garden.