William Thieben

There were many from Sayville High who made it to the big leagues in baseball and football. But I’ve only found one, who made it to the NBA from Sayville High??
William Thieben (1935-2023)
Born in Brooklyn in 1935 to Bernhard and Erna, William’s parents were German immigrants who sought refuge from the rise of Nazism in Germany. They eventually settled in Sayville and started a poultry farm called the Lincoln Avenue Poultry Farm.
From 1948 to 1952, William attended Sayville High School, where he played basketball and contributed to the school’s consecutive A-2 title championships. He left a lasting mark by setting a school scoring record of 48 points in a single game.
After graduating from high school, William pursued higher education at Hofstra University. He achieved remarkable success in basketball during his time there, earning numerous accolades such as multiple selections to the All Metropolitan Basketball Team, inclusion in an All-American team during his junior and senior years, and winning the prestigious Haggerty Award. To this day, he holds records for career and game scoring as well as rebounding at Hofstra. In 1956, he obtained his B.A. in History, followed by a master’s degree from Hofstra in 1960.
In 1956, William was drafted by the Fort Wayne Pistons, who later became the Detroit Pistons in 1957. He played for the team for two seasons before deciding to return home. He embarked on a career in education, initially as a history teacher at Bay Shore High School. He continued to climb the ranks, becoming an assistant principal at Bay Shore and eventually serving as principal at Rocky Point High School. Alongside his administrative roles, he also taught as a professor at various colleges on Long Island, specializing in secondary education. His final position was as a Professor of Secondary Education at St. Joseph’s College.
During his lifetime, William married Georgia Vedder, with whom he had two children. In addition to his professional accomplishments, he was the recipient of numerous awards for his public service. Notably, he was inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame. In recognition of his years of dedication to Bay Shore students, the district established the “William B. Thieben Scholarship Fund.”
Beyond his achievements, William had a passion for music and was known to showcase his guitar-playing skills by performing songs at charity events. He also enjoyed spending countless hours sailing on the Great South Bay, indulging in his love for the sea.
The legacy of William Thieben, remains unmatched by many-a remarkable man in his own right.