Art Lentz
military personnel · basketball player
- December 8, 2018
- 92 years
About Art Lentz
Art Lentz, 92, American basketball player.
Explore other notable deaths in 2018 or deaths in December 2018.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Art Lentz?
Explore their life. Test your knowledge. Beat the challenge.
10 questions · One legacy · How much do you really know?
Challenge your friends
Play together in real-time.
The Basketball Archive
The players, the coaches and the seasons that built the game — biographies, records and the moments that are still talked about. Step inside and follow the careers of the legends.
Explore the basketball archiveAdvertisement
Full Biography
|Arthur H. Lentz (June 27, 1926 – December 8, 2018) was an American professional basketball player. He played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) for four seasons.
Early life
Lentz was born in the borough of West York in York, Pennsylvania. He started playing basketball while attending a one-room school nicknamed "Corncob College" in North Codorus Township, York County. He attended West York High School and played basketball on the varsity team that won its league title in 1943.
Military career
Lentz was about to graduate high school in 1944 when he turned 18 and received a summons to join the United States Army for World War II. He was assigned to the 119th Infantry of the 30th Division and was shipped to the front lines of the Battle of the Bulge. On February 23, 1945, Lentz and another soldier delivered a radio to a front-line unit by sprinting across 500 yards of open territory while under enemy fire; he received a Bronze Star Medal for heroic service. On March 24, 1945, he was grazed by a bullet as he delivered ammo to a forward unit near the town of Oerlinghausen in Germany. Lentz lost his upper lip in the incident and spent 30 days in hospital. For his actions, he was awarded a Purple Heart and an oak leaf cluster for his Bronze Star.
Lentz rejoined his unit as it approached Berlin before the city was taken over by Russian forces. He spent weeks on occupation duty before he boarded a ship bound for the Pacific. The war ended during his journey there and Lentz instead returned to the United States.
Lentz was assigned to Fort Knox in Kentucky and played basketball for the base team against college basketball teams. He scored 10 points while starting at center in a game against the Kentucky Wildcats.
Lentz was discharged from service and returned home to graduate from West York High School in 1946. He played basketball as he attended York College of Pennsylvania for half a season in 1947.
Playing career
Lentz began his professional career in the Eastern Professional Basketball League (EPBL) with York Victory A.C. on a $25 a game contract. He led the league in scoring with 576 points during his rookie season in 1948–49. He received a raise to $35 a game during his second year in the league. Lentz was selected to the All-EPBL Second Team in the 1949–50 season. The York team failed to make enough money so it dissolved and Lentz moved to the Pottsville Packers. He won an EPBL championship with the Packers in 1952.
Lentz was recruited to play for the Baltimore Bullets of the National Basketball Association but turned down the offer because he had to relocate and received no financial improvements.
Lentz played baseball for multiple teams in the Southern York County League. Lentz helped to establish the Salvation Army Softball League in 1964. He served as a basketball official in York County for the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association from 1964 to 1974. Lentz played basketball and softball in YMCA leagues until the age of 60.
Later life
Lentz was employed at Rehmeyer, Inc, for over 20 years. He was the owner of a bowling alley from 1970 to 1980. Lentz worked for York College of Pennsylvania as a maintenance supervisor until his retirement in 1994.
Aged 90, Lentz began speaking engagements at local nursing homes where he recounted his personal experiences during World War II.
Lentz died at York Hospital on December 8, 2018, aged 92.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Interactive
Test Your Knowledge – Trivia Challenge
How well do you know this person's life and legacy?
No account needed to play. Sign in to keep your score on the leaderboard.
Articles & News
Reported coverage of Art Lentz; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Art Lentz on Amazon.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Lentz
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- October 6, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Art Lentz's archived record and the sources above.
1.During which conflict was Arthur H. Lentz summoned to join the United States Army?
- A.Vietnam War
- B.World War I
- C.Korean War
- D.World War IIcorrect
Arthur H. Lentz received a summons to join the United States Army for World War II in 1944.
Source: Military career section
2.What award did Arthur H. Lentz receive for sprinting across 500 yards under enemy fire?
- A.Bronze Star Medalcorrect
- B.Silver Star
- C.Medal of Honor
- D.Purple Heart
Arthur H. Lentz received a Bronze Star Medal for heroic service during the Battle of the Bulge.
Source: Military career section
3.Where was Arthur H. Lentz injured by a bullet in March 1945?
- A.In the Pacific
- B.At Fort Knox
- C.Near Oerlinghausencorrect
- D.Near Berlin
Arthur H. Lentz was grazed by a bullet near the town of Oerlinghausen in Germany.
Source: Military career section
4.Which body part did Arthur H. Lentz lose during his injury in Germany?
- A.His little finger
- B.His upper lipcorrect
- C.His right thumb
- D.His left ear
Arthur H. Lentz lost his upper lip during the incident where he was grazed by a bullet.
Source: Military career section
5.What professional basketball league did Arthur H. Lentz play in for four seasons?
- A.Eastern Professional Basketball Leaguecorrect
- B.York County Athletic Association
- C.Southern York County League
- D.National Basketball Association
Arthur H. Lentz played in the Eastern Professional Basketball League for four seasons.
Source: Playing career section
6.For which team did Arthur H. Lentz win an EPBL championship in 1952?
- A.York Victory A.C.
- B.Pottsville Packerscorrect
- C.Baltimore Bullets
- D.Kentucky Wildcats
After his time with York Victory A.C., Arthur H. Lentz moved to the Pottsville Packers and won a championship.
Source: Playing career section
7.Why did Arthur H. Lentz turn down an offer to play for the Baltimore Bullets?
- A.He had to relocate and received no financial gaincorrect
- B.He preferred playing softball
- C.He wanted to retire early
- D.He was drafted into the Korean War
Arthur H. Lentz turned down the Baltimore Bullets offer because of relocation requirements and no pay increase.
Source: Playing career section
8.In what year did Arthur H. Lentz help establish the Salvation Army Softball League?
- A.1948
- B.1952
- C.1974
- D.1964correct
Arthur H. Lentz helped to establish the Salvation Army Softball League in 1964.
Source: Playing career section
9.How long did Arthur H. Lentz work as a maintenance supervisor for York College of Pennsylvania?
- A.For over 20 years
- B.Until his retirement in 1994correct
- C.From 1964 to 1974
- D.For 10 years exactly
Arthur H. Lentz worked for York College of Pennsylvania as a maintenance supervisor until his retirement in 1994.
Source: Later life section
10.What type of business did Arthur H. Lentz own between 1970 and 1980?
- A.A restaurant
- B.A construction company
- C.A sporting goods store
- D.A bowling alleycorrect
Arthur H. Lentz was the owner of a bowling alley from 1970 to 1980.
Source: Later life section
11.At what age did Arthur H. Lentz begin giving speaking engagements at nursing homes?
- A.75
- B.60
- C.85
- D.90correct
Aged 90, Arthur H. Lentz began speaking engagements at local nursing homes about his World War II experiences.
Source: Later life section
12.At what hospital did Arthur H. Lentz die?
- A.York Hospitalcorrect
- B.Baltimore General
- C.West York Infirmary
- D.Fort Knox Medical Center
Arthur H. Lentz died at York Hospital on December 8, 2018.
Source: Later life section
13.What was the initial contract amount for Arthur H. Lentz to play for York Victory A.C.?
- A.$35 a game
- B.$50 a game
- C.$25 a gamecorrect
- D.$15 a game
Arthur H. Lentz began his professional career with York Victory A.C. on a $25 a game contract.
Source: Playing career section
14.Until what age did Arthur H. Lentz continue to play basketball and softball in YMCA leagues?
- A.50
- B.55
- C.65
- D.60correct
Arthur H. Lentz played basketball and softball in YMCA leagues until the age of 60.
Source: Playing career section
15.In what borough was Arthur H. Lentz born?
- A.West Yorkcorrect
- B.Baltimore
- C.North Codorus
- D.Pottsville
Arthur H. Lentz was born in the borough of West York in York, Pennsylvania.
Source: Early life section
16.Which school did Arthur H. Lentz attend when he first started playing basketball?
- A.West York High School
- B.Pottsville Academy
- C.Corncob Collegecorrect
- D.York College of Pennsylvania
Arthur H. Lentz started playing basketball at a one-room school nicknamed Corncob College.
Source: Early life section
Explore the archive
People who died on December 8
Related People
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Art Lentz →Advertisement
