31 Dec 2025 501 Hometown Hall of Famers: Hubert ‘Geese’ Ausbie

Posted at 8:01 PMh in Sports by

By David Grimes

Hubert “Geese” Ausbie was one of the biggest stars on one of the most recognizable teams in the world, the Harlem Globetrotters.

Ausbie was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame (ASHOF) in 1990 as part of the 32nd class, along with Leota Barham, Bennie Ellender, Lowell “Hoss” Manning, Henry Moore and Bobby Tiner.

Born in 1938 in Crescent, Okla., Ausbie graduated from Douglas High School in 1956. He excelled in many sports, including basketball, baseball, tennis and track & field. Countless colleges were vying for his services, and he decided upon Philander Smith in Little Rock, where one of his brothers attended.

Ausbie excelled as a Panther, both in the classroom and on the court. He completed his degree and became one of the top players in the country, among the leading scorers in the nation. It was at Philander Smith University where he met his wife, Awilda. They were married for 61 years and had four children.

The writer, David Grimes, shares a favorite item in his sports memorabilia collection: The Harlem Globetrotters metal lunchbox that Hubert “Geese” Ausbie autographed several years ago when he spoke at an event in Conway. The Globetrotters are celebrating their 100th anniversary in 2026, and a worldwide celebration tour is scheduled, which includes a return trip to North Little Rock at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24.

After graduation, Ausbie had NBA offers from the Cincinnati Royals and the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as an offer from the Chicago Cubs to play baseball. But he had something else in mind for his future.

With Awilda’s help, they mailed countless letters to the Harlem Globetrotters in hopes of getting a tryout. Their persistence paid off, as Ausbie was finally given a look and was offered a spot on the team’s roster. He made his debut in 1961.

The Globetrotters originated in 1926 in Chicago under a different name. Abe Saperstein soon got involved as owner, coach and marketing guru, rebranding the team as the Harlem Globetrotters. They played serious competitive basketball up until the late 1930s.

Hubert “Geese” Ausbie graduated from high school in 1956 in Oklahoma. Countless colleges wanted to recruit him, but he chose Philander Smith University in Little Rock. After graduation, he became a team member of the Harlem Globetrotters. On January 31, 2017, the Globetrotters retired Ausbie’s No. 35 jersey during halftime of their game at Simmons Bank Arena.

One of the team’s earliest superstars was Reece “Goose” Tatum, an El Dorado native and also an ASHOF inductee. Tatum played during the 1940s and 1950s and introduced many of the comedic elements into the Globetrotters’ routine.

The team has literally traveled the globe, entertaining millions over the years wearing their famous red, white and blue uniforms and dancing to their famous theme song, “Sweet Georgia Brown.” The Harlem Globetrotters were inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

With “Goose” already taken, Ausbie adopted the nickname “Geese” for his Globetrotter persona. Along with fellow legends Meadowlark Lemon and Curly Neal, Ausbie played during the golden era of Globetrotter basketball.

In 1970, they were turned into an animated Saturday morning cartoon. That lasted a few years, including a famous crossover movie with the gang from Scooby Doo.

They were regularly featured on ABC’s Wide World of Sports and made a guest appearance on the television series “The White Shadow.” The pinnacle may have been the made-for-TV-movie, “The Harlem Globetrotters on Gilligan’s Island,” in 1981.

The merchandising opportunities were seemingly endless. The Globetrotters’ images were used on countless items, including comic books, coloring books, trading cards, dinner plates, watches and those iron-on patches that were all the rage in the 1970s.

One of the favorite items in my sports memorabilia collection is a Harlem Globetrotters metal lunchbox that Ausbie autographed. I had the chance to meet him several years ago when he spoke at an event in Conway. He still had that great big smile and was engaging and gracious and just as nice as could be.

The Globetrotters have made numerous appearances in Central Arkansas over the years. I remember going to see them as a kid at Barton Coliseum. Ausbie, of course, played those games in his hometown of Little Rock. He retired as a player in 1985 but remained in various other roles with the organization over the years.

I was able to take my two sons to see the Globetrotters several years back at Simmons Bank Arena and they still put on a great show. They still beat up on the hapless Washington Generals, and they still perform many of the old tried and true gags, including eating fans’ popcorn and the classic water bucket full of confetti thrown into the crowd.

The Globetrotters are celebrating their 100th anniversary this year and, of course, are having a worldwide celebration tour, which includes a return trip to North Little Rock on Saturday, Jan. 24. It is well worth the price of admission.