About Danny Lotz
Danny Lotz, 78, American basketball player (North Carolina Tar Heels).
Explore other notable deaths in 2015 or deaths in August 2015.
The Deaths Archive presents
How well do you know Danny Lotz?
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.
Advertisement
Full Biography
|Daniel Milton Lotz (March 30, 1937 – August 19, 2015) was an American basketball player who was a member of the undefeated 1956–57 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team. He was the son-in-law of evangelist Billy Graham.
Early life
Lotz was a native of Northport, New York. His father, John Lotz, was a street preacher in New York City who held a weekly ministry at The Bowery Mission. He had three brothers, including basketball coach John Lotz and Baptist leader Denton Lotz. Lotz averaged 20 points per game as a junior and 28 as a senior at Northport High School. He was also a standout defensive end for the school's football team. He captained both teams to championships.
University of North Carolina
Lotz was ready to sign with Wake Forest, but was eventually steered to North Carolina by recruiter Harry Gotkin. He was one of many New York players to join Frank McGuire's Tar Heels, including Lennie Rosenbluth, Pete Brennan, Tommy Kearns, Joe Quigg, and Bob Cunningham.
Lotz appeared in 24 games his sophomore year, averaging 1.0 points and 1.6 rebounds per game. UNC finished the year with a 32–0 record and Lotz picked up two rebounds in the Tar Heels' triple overtime victory in the 1957 NCAA University Division basketball championship game.
McGuire expected Lotz to be the team's sixth man during the 1957–58 season. However, Lotz was forced to miss several games after he broke his leg in the season-opener against Clemson. He finished the season averaging 1.0 points and 1.7 rebounds in 18 games played.
Lotz was the only senior on the 1958–59 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team. He nearly did not make the team due to the excellent play of sophomores Doug Moe and York Larese. However, he made the squad and was named a team captain. He started the team's first several games, but was eventually moved to the bench. He finished the year averaging 3.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game and was awarded the Roy Roberson Jr. Memorial Trophy for "contributing most to the morale of the team".
After his basketball eligibility expired, Lotz earned a football scholarship and played for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team as a defensive end.
Post-playing life
In 1963, Lotz graduated from the UNC School of Dentistry alongside former teammate Joe Quigg. He began practicing in Raleigh, North Carolina after a stint in the United States Air Force. He served for two years in the Air Force and became a captain. While in the Air Force, he was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico and played in the all service basketball team.
On September 2, 1966, Lotz married Anne Morrow Graham, daughter of evangelist Billy Graham. The pair had met at the annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes conference in Black Mountain, North Carolina in June 1965 when Graham was 17 and Lotz was 28. They had one son and two daughters. Lotz remained active with the FCA and taught Bible study.
Lotz developed diabetes at the age of 50 and lost sight in one eye and hearing in one ear. He also suffered from heart disease, which required five stents in his arteries, and kidney failure that resulted in dialysis treatments three times a week.
On August 17, 2015, Lotz's wife found him unresponsive in their pool. He was taken off of life support two days later and died that same day.
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.
Books & Media
Find books, audiobooks and films about Danny Lotz 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/Danny_Lotz
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 15 questions
Questions drawn from Danny Lotz's archived record and the sources above.
1.What was the date of birth of Daniel Milton Lotz?
- A.March 30, 1937correct
- B.June 1, 1935
- C.September 2, 1966
- D.August 19, 2015
Daniel Milton Lotz was born on March 30, 1937.
Source: biographical introduction
2.In which town was Daniel Milton Lotz born?
- A.Raleigh, North Carolina
- B.New York City, New York
- C.Northport, New Yorkcorrect
- D.Black Mountain, North Carolina
Daniel Milton Lotz was a native of Northport, New York.
Source: early life section
3.What position did Daniel Milton Lotz play for his high school football team?
- A.Wide receiver
- B.Defensive endcorrect
- C.Quarterback
- D.Linebacker
Daniel Milton Lotz was a standout defensive end for his high school's football team.
Source: early life section
4.Who was the recruiter that convinced Daniel Milton Lotz to attend the University of North Carolina?
- A.John Lotz
- B.Frank McGuire
- C.Roy Roberson Jr.
- D.Harry Gotkincorrect
Daniel Milton Lotz was steered to North Carolina by recruiter Harry Gotkin.
Source: University of North Carolina section
5.How many games did Daniel Milton Lotz appear in during his sophomore year at UNC?
- A.18 games
- B.32 games
- C.24 gamescorrect
- D.10 games
Daniel Milton Lotz appeared in 24 games his sophomore year at the University of North Carolina.
Source: University of North Carolina section
6.What trophy was awarded to Daniel Milton Lotz during his senior year for his contribution to team morale?
- A.Roy Roberson Jr. Memorial Trophycorrect
- B.Most Valuable Player Trophy
- C.North Carolina Leadership Award
- D.Frank McGuire Trophy
Daniel Milton Lotz was awarded the Roy Roberson Jr. Memorial Trophy for contributing most to the morale of the team.
Source: University of North Carolina section
7.After his basketball eligibility expired, what sport did Daniel Milton Lotz play at the University of North Carolina?
- A.Baseball
- B.Footballcorrect
- C.Track and field
- D.Tennis
After his basketball eligibility expired, Daniel Milton Lotz earned a football scholarship and played as a defensive end.
Source: University of North Carolina section
8.What degree did Daniel Milton Lotz earn in 1963?
- A.Degree in Physical Education
- B.Master of Business Administration
- C.Doctor of Medicine
- D.Degree from the School of Dentistrycorrect
In 1963, Daniel Milton Lotz graduated from the UNC School of Dentistry.
Source: post-playing life section
9.What military rank did Daniel Milton Lotz attain while serving in the United States Air Force?
- A.Captaincorrect
- B.Lieutenant
- C.Major
- D.Colonel
Daniel Milton Lotz served for two years in the Air Force and became a captain.
Source: post-playing life section
10.Where was Daniel Milton Lotz stationed while serving in the United States Air Force?
- A.Langley Air Force Base
- B.Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
- C.Travis Air Force Base
- D.Holloman Air Force Basecorrect
While in the Air Force, Daniel Milton Lotz was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.
Source: post-playing life section
11.At what event did Daniel Milton Lotz first meet Anne Morrow Graham?
- A.Fellowship of Christian Athletes conferencecorrect
- B.A university graduation ceremony
- C.A basketball championship game
- D.A dental association meeting
The pair had met at the annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes conference in Black Mountain, North Carolina in June 1965.
Source: post-playing life section
12.How many children did Daniel Milton Lotz and Anne Morrow Graham have together?
- A.Threecorrect
- B.Two
- C.Four
- D.Five
Daniel Milton Lotz and Anne Morrow Graham had one son and two daughters.
Source: post-playing life section
13.At what age did Daniel Milton Lotz develop diabetes?
- A.45
- B.60
- C.55
- D.50correct
Daniel Milton Lotz developed diabetes at the age of 50.
Source: post-playing life section
14.On what date did Daniel Milton Lotz pass away?
- A.September 2, 2015
- B.August 17, 2015
- C.August 21, 2015
- D.August 19, 2015correct
Daniel Milton Lotz was taken off of life support and died on August 19, 2015.
Source: post-playing life section
15.What health condition required Daniel Milton Lotz to receive dialysis treatments three times a week?
- A.Diabetes
- B.Kidney failurecorrect
- C.Heart disease
- D.Liver disease
Daniel Milton Lotz suffered from kidney failure that resulted in dialysis treatments three times a week.
Source: post-playing life section
People who died on August 19
Spotted an error?
Help us keep the archive accurate. Report a correction with a source.
Report an error for Danny Lotz →Advertisement
