Dave Shepherd’s life took a little bit of a flip when a drunk driver crossed the centerline. He discovered himself mendacity within the street after his automobile was hit.

“I had somewhat speak with the person upstairs to get me via this. I do know there are extra essential issues than basketball,” he mentioned. “It was painful. Damaged ribs, damaged jaw. Thank God I had a seat belt on.”

Shepherd, then an Indiana College sophomore, was headed again residence to Carmel on Ind. 37 when the accident occurred. He had simply participated within the first apply at Meeting Corridor in October 1971.

Clockwise from left, Billy Shepherd, Invoice Shepherd Sr., Dave Shepherd and Steve Shepherd. (Submitted pictures)

Shepherd, who celebrates his 50th yr since carrying the No. 1 jersey as Indiana Mr. Basketball this month, returned to play that season for the Hoosiers. Nonetheless, the Carmel Excessive College graduate wasn’t himself.

“I suffered a damaged ankle that was gradual to heal,” he mentioned. “My mouth was wired shut for six weeks. I ought to have redshirted however we solely had eight gamers. I got here again on the first of the yr however was 60 p.c (bodily).

“As much as that time of laying out within the freeway not realizing if I’d make it or not, sports activities was 100 p.c (of life). After that, I’d say it was 75 p.c.”

Shepherd had been recruited by former IU coach Lou Watson. On the time, freshmen weren’t eligible to play varsity. Watson was changed by Bob Knight for the 1971-72 season. After taking part in in 11 video games that season, Shepherd figured he didn’t slot in Knight’s plans and transferred to the College of Mississippi. Following a redshirt season, he led the Rebels in scoring for 2 seasons.

Shepherd began promoting insurance coverage earlier than his last season at Ole Miss. In 1977, he based the Shepherd Insurance coverage company in Carmel with few assets. But, he had contacts via the basketball world and proved to be a pure at gross sales.

“Profitable Mr. Basketball is like branding. You may’t get away from it,” Shepherd mentioned. “There’s a mystique to the respect, and also you get to satisfy plenty of cool, good folks. That’s what life is all about. That honor has afforded me issues the typical man doesn’t get to do. It’s one of many best issues that has occurred to our household.”

His older brother, Billy Shepherd, was named Mr. Basketball in 1968. Each performed at CHS for his or her late father, Invoice Shepherd Sr.

“I’m as proud as what (Shepherd Insurance coverage) has accomplished in enterprise as what we’ve accomplished in sports activities,” mentioned Dave Shepherd, a member of the Indiana Basketball Corridor of Fame and Insurance coverage Enterprise America Corridor of Fame. “I don’t know if plenty of guys can say that. The impact now we have on 350 to 400 staff. They do rather a lot for us. Internally, from a monetary standpoint, how we may help that many individuals and their households is actually rewarding.”

Shepherd and his spouse, Sally, have properties in Carmel and North Naples, Fla. Florida is his major residence.

Shepherd grew to become chairman of the board this yr whereas his son, Quinn, grew to become chief government officer. Shepherd primarily concentrates on acquisitions and spends time within the workplaces in Arizona and Florida. Shepherd Insurance coverage has 26 companies in six states.

Teaming up with Broadstreet Companions, a capital investor, in 2016, enabled Shepherd Insurance coverage to develop its progress.

Jeff Kweder, a former golfer at Ohio State College, joined the corporate greater than 35 years in the past.

“We had three folks. Now, we’ve acquired close to 400 folks,” mentioned Kweder, firm president and accomplice. “A very powerful factor is Dave was by no means afraid to maintain placing (poker) chips within the center, investing and dealing onerous. A whole lot of that goes along with his basketball mentality. Simply outwork all people, be tenacious, deal with folks proper, rent one of the best folks and be sincere and moral.”

Billy Shepherd mentioned there are similarities between his brother’s basketball and enterprise careers.

“When you find yourself 5-foot-10 and you’re the underdog on a regular basis, you all the time must exit and show your self,” Billy mentioned. “There was little doubt he was ready to do this athletically, and he was capable of carry that over to his enterprise atmosphere. The lesson you study in sports activities can carry over in life, and I feel David is a superb instance of that.”

His brother has turn out to be the consummate level guard.

“He sees what everybody brings to the desk and he’s capable of get somewhat extra out of him than the traditional individual,” Billy mentioned.

From left, Dave Shepherd, father/coach Invoice Shepherd Sr. and Billy Shepherd fashioned a strong basketball trio in late 1960s.

Bragging rights

Along with being Mr. Basketball, Dave Shepherd’s finest basketball reminiscence is reaching the state championship recreation in 1970 earlier than dropping to East Chicago Roosevelt. He set the state single-season factors file, averaging 37.2 factors per recreation that yr.

“Fifty years is a very long time to carry a file,” Shepherd mentioned. “I’m shocked that file continues to be round.”

It’s turn out to be a working joke with former IU standout Steve Alford since Shepherd scored 1,079 and Alford scored 1,078 for New Citadel within the 1982-83 season. Shepherd mentioned he all the time holds up a single finger when he sees Alford to point his one-point benefit.