# 15
Hometown: New Albany, IN (High)
Position: C Playing Height: 6-5 Playing Weight: 194
Date of Birth: June 28, 1919
Date of Death: August 6, 1944
Additional Photos: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)
Action Photos: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) (20) (21) (22)
Game by Game Statistics
Season Notes:
1942-43: All-SEC Tournament
Post-UK Career Notes:
Served in the Military
| Season | Games Played | FG | FT | F | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1940-41 | 23 | 44 | 21 | 40 | 109 |
| 1941-42 | 25 | 69 | 39 | 44 | 177 |
| 1942-43 | 23 | 71 | 49 | 49 | 191 |
| Total | 71 | 184 | 109 | 133 | 477 |
Obituary - Melvin Brewer Ex-NAHS Star, Killed in France, New Albany (IN) Tribune (September 1, 1944)
Lieut. Brewer was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin J. Brewer, 1003 Silver. An one-year-old daughter, Vicki Lynn, and a brother, Captain Kenneth Brewer, with the army in New Guinea, also survive.
Lieut. Brewer was widely known in athletic circles as a basketball and track star. He played on the New Albany high school 1936-37, and 1937-38 teams and was regarded as one of the greatest offensive centers to represent the Bulldogs.
Graduating from New Albany high school in 1938, he enrolled a year later at the University of Kentucky, where he became nationally known as one of the greatest hoop centers in collegiate circles. He left U of K in 1943 to join the armed forces. He received officers training at Fort Benning, Ga.
He had been a member of the local Indiana national guard unit before entering college, where he also received military training.
Body of Brewer Has Arrived in U.S. From France, New Albany (IN) Tribune (August 24, 1948)
The body of 2nd Lieut. Melvin Charles Brewer, a New Albany man killed in the service of his country, recently arrived in the United States.
Born June 28, 1919, Lieut. Brewer was a graduate of New Albany High School where he was an outstanding basketball player. He captained the Bulldogs during the 1937-38 season after gaining the regular center berth the year before. His coach was Charlie McConnell, present head mentor of the Logansport Berries.
Brewer, who stood five inches above the six foot mark, was adept at pivot pokes from the front and was a past master at tipping in rim-spinners.
New Albany high school's basketball team was led to victory by Brewer in the first appearance of the Bulldogs at the new Jeffersonville Fieldhouse in January of 1938. After a hectic game with their sports arch-enemies, the Jeff Red Devils, the Bulldogs, with Brewer commanding most of the rebounds, won by 21-19.
Plays At Madison Square
Brewer, also a capable NAHS track star, entered the University of Kentucky in September, 1940 and a year later became the Wildcats regular pivotman. He performed at New York's Madison Square Garden and was acclaimed as a great center by many of the nation's leading sports scribes.
Lieut. Brewer entered the service September 30, 1942 and completed his college work while in the Army. He was graduated from the University June 4, 1943.
He later went to Ft. Thomas and Ft. Benning where he commissioned 2nd Lieut. upon graduation from Officers Candidate school in December, 1943.
In May, 1944 he was sent to Camp McCain and in June of the same year he was sent to Ft. Mead. Lieut. Brewer was sent overseas June 27, 1944. He was with the 116th Infantry, 29th division when he was killed in Vires, France, August 6, 1944.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Jacqueline Bir Brewer; a daughter, Vicki Lynn, 5 years; a son, Melvin Charles, 3 years; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Calvin J. Brewer, and a brother, Kenneth W. Brewer.
'K' Men Who Died in World War II, Kentucky Game Program (December 9, 1950)
BREWER, 2nd Lt. Melvin Charles, 25, B.S. in Com. '43, son of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin J. Brewer and husband of Mrs. Jacqueline Bir Brewer of New Albany, Ind.
While attending the University of Kentucky he was a star basketball player from 1941 through the spring of 1943. Brewer entered the Army on May 10, 1943, following his graduation from the University where he had taken advanced military training. He received his commission at Ft. Benning, Ga., and was sent overseas for combat. Lt. Brewer lost his life while fighting in France on August 6, 1944. Besides his wife and parents, his two children, Vicki Lynn and Melvin Charles, survive.
