Henry T. Akin, Jr.

Henry T. Akin, Jr., husband, father, friend, and former NBA player, and a resident of Mill Creek, Washington, passed away in the early morning hours Sunday, February 16, 2020, at EvergreenHealth Hospice Care Center in Kirkland, Washington. He was 75.

Born July 31, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan, he was one of two children born to the late Henry Troutt Akin and Adda Metzger Akin of Troy, Michigan.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Diana; three daughters, Erin J. Robertson (Scott) of Arlington, Washington, Shannon D. Iredale – Sellentin of Snohomish, Washington, and Amanda M. Chigbrow (Cory) of Lake Forest Park, Washington; and his devoted sister, Addamae Akin of Snohomish, Washington.

He is also survived by six adorable and loving grandchildren, Lauren Elizabeth Iredale, Jack Andrew Iredale, Jeffrey-Turner (JT) Sellentin, Kenna Jane Robertson, Frances Henry Chigbrow, and Evelyn Deen Chigbrow.   He also leaves behind countless extended family and friends amassed during his lifetime.

Henry graduated from Troy High School in 1962 where he excelled in basketball and baseball.  After attending Morehead State University, in Morehead, Kentucky, where he received All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, he was inducted into the Morehead State University Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013.

In 1966, as a 6‘10“, 225 pound forward-center, Henry was drafted into the National Basketball Association, by the New York Knicks as the 11th overall pick in the NBA draft. In 1967 he was drafted by the Seattle SuperSonics in the expansion draft as the NBA expanded into Seattle.  As one of the original Seattle SuperSonics, and after two years as an active player for the New York Knickerbockers, Seattle SuperSonics and Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association, he became the head scout for the Seattle SuperSonics and was influential in building the 1978-79 NBA Championship team.

After his NBA years, he worked in big and tall retail clothing, public warehousing, and retired from The Boeing Company in 2010 after 22 years of service.

Living in the Lake Forest Park area of Seattle for more than 40 years, he continued his enjoyment of basketball by volunteering with the Shorecrest High School girls basketball program where he mentored many young women about basketball and life. He loved salmon fishing off Whidbey Island and the San Juan Islands, enjoyed woodworking, and of course, March Madness.  Nothing, however, could compare to his love for his family and special friends.

A celebration of life will be conducted on Thursday, May 21, 2020, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Lake Forest Park Civic Club, located at 17301 Beach Dr. NE., in Lake Forest Park, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to EvergreenHealth Foundation, noted for Hospice Care Center, 12040 N. E. 128th St., MS 5, Kirkland, WA 98034 or the Big Beaver United Methodist Church, 3753 John R Rd, in Troy, Michigan 48083.

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