Remembering Carl Ritter Sr.: SEMO Basketball Legend and Community Leader Passes Away at 84

Carl Ritter Sr., a standout basketball player at Southeast Missouri State University, passed away Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, at the age of 84.

Ritter played for the SEMO men’s basketball team from1959 to 1963, during which he scored 1,916 points setting the program’s all-time leading scoring record at the time. He was named an Associated Press All-American in 1961 and earned second-team honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1963.

In addition to his collegiate success, Ritter was also the first SEMO player selected in the NBA draft, chosen 75th overall by the St. Louis Hawks in 1963.

Ritter’s accomplishments led to the retirement of his jersey number, 32, the only number retired in the history of the program.

Ritter also went on to become a member of the Missouri Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1993, and in the Advance High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2019, further adding to his athletic legacy.

After finishing his athletic career, Ritter served as a teacher and coach in Missouri, including leading Bell City High School boys basketball team to a third-place finish in the state in 1981, and the girls volleyball team to a Class 1 state title in 1996. Ritter also served as Mayor of Advance from 2010-2019.

Ritter’s visitation will take place in Advance on Thursday, Jan. 9 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Morgan’s Funeral Home, with the Funeral service following on Friday at 11 a.m.