Bob Presley

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Bob Presley

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1946|4|30}}

| birth_place = Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1975|3|25|1946|4|30}}

| death_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 10

| weight_lbs =

| high_school =

Northern (Detroit, Michigan)

| college =

Mt. San Jacinto (1966–1967)
California (1967–1969)

| draft_year = 1969

| draft_round = 11

| draft_pick = 143

| draft_team = Milwaukee Bucks

| career_start = 1971

| career_end = 1975

| career_position = Center

| career_number =

| years1 = 1971

| team1 = Meralco

| years2 = 1973–1974

| team2 = Richmond Believers

| years3 = 1974

| team3 = San Francisco Sugar Hills

| years4 = 1974–1975

| team4 = Martinez Muirs

| highlights =

MICAA champion (1971 Open)
Second-team All-AAWU (1968)

}}

Robert Nathaniel Presley (April 30, 1946 – March 25, 1975) was an American professional basketball player.

Presley was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He attended three high schools in Detroit and struggled academically despite having potential as a basketball player. Presley was sent to California where he benefitted from alleviated academic standards and graduated from high school. He became eligible to attend Mt. San Jacinto College where he starred on the basketball team as a sophomore. Presley transferred to play for the California Golden Bears from 1967 to 1969. His suspension and subsequent reinstatement in 1968 sparked racial tension on the team and resulted in the resignations of head coach Rene Herrerias and athletic director Pete Newell. Presley was expected to start his professional career with the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association (ABA) in 1969 but quit the team before appearing in a game. He played in the Philippines, Belgium and the American semi-professional Western Basketball Association (WBA).

Presley's personal life was marked by turmoil and poverty. He struggled to make an adequate income from his basketball career and failed in other business ventures. After experiencing several mental breakdowns in his pursuit for a successful basketball career, Presley drowned himself in the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon.

Early life

Presley was born on April 30, 1946,{{cite news |last1=Nenstiel |first1=Gregory |title=Two Black Victims |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-two-black-victims/164175236/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Tampa Tribune |date=November 2, 1980 |page=61 |via=Newspapers.com}} in Birmingham, Alabama.{{cite web |last1=Henson |first1=Joaquin M. |title=Death of an import - SPORTING CHANCE |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2001/04/22/107715/death-import-sporting-chance-joaquin-m-henson |website=PhilStar |access-date=January 29, 2025 |date=April 22, 2001}} His parents had wanted to name him Nathaniel Robert but the hospital reversed the names on his birth certificate. Presley's family lived in poverty in Birmingham so they moved to Detroit. They lived in the attic of a relative's house, slept on the floor and used a "slop jar" because they did not have access to a bathroom. Presley's father worked late hours on the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company. His childhood was permeated by hunger and inattention.

Presley attended the Moore School for Boys which was a predominantly black institution that was established for troubled children.{{cite magazine |last1=Johnson |first1=William |title=Collision on the new Underground Railroad |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1968/02/12/collision-on-the-new-underground-railroad |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=January 29, 2025 |date=February 12, 1968}} Moore did not have an interscholastic sports program so Presley transferred to Pershing High School when he was aged 16 because of his potential as a basketball player. Pershing basketball coach Will Robinson attempted to keep Presley interested in pursuing his education by giving him lunch money and driving him to school but he was suspended after six weeks due to truancy. Presley later stated that "Pershing was 97% white, and I couldn't make the adjustment."

Presley spent the rest of the year at a job where he reconditioned used cars. He enrolled at Northern High School as a sophomore in 1963 and played as a reserve center on the basketball team. Presley and Northern made the Class A championship game in 1964 where they lost to Benton Harbor High School.{{cite news |last1=DeLand |first1=Jim |title=Determination Takes Tigers To Title |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-palladium-determination-takes/164171595/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Herald-Palladium |date=March 23, 1964 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com}} In October 1964, Presley arrived at Northern while intoxicated and punched a teacher, starting a brawl that took four teachers and multiple policemen to control him. He was expelled from Northern and spent the rest of the year playing basketball on neighborhood courts with local players including Bill Buntin and Mel Daniels.

Presley had formed a connection with George Gaddy, a physical education instructor and manager of a local sports club for underprivileged children, during his attendance at Moore. Gaddy was involved in an operation that helped black athletes with poor grades gain enrollment at colleges so they could participate in intercollegiate athletics; Sports Illustrated compared the scheme to the Underground Railroad. Gaddy helped Presley to enroll at Salinas High School in northern California where he completed his junior year. He then enrolled at both Mt. San Jacinto College (which, as a California junior college, only required students to be 18 years old) and Banning High School where he achieved his high school diploma at the age of 20.

College career

=Mt. San Jacinto Eagles (1966–1967)=

Presley returned to Mt. San Jacinto, where he played on the Eagles basketball team as a sophomore.{{cite news |title=Three 'Runners Named All-Desert |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-desert-sun-three-runners-named-all/164161065/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Desert Sun |date=February 27, 1967 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} The Eagles achieved a 25–5 record, and won the Desert Conference championship. Presley averaged 22 points per game and was selected as the most valuable player of the Desert Conference.

=California Golden Bears (1967–1969)=

==Junior season==

Presley was recruited to play for the California Golden Bears at the University of California, Berkeley. He had only achieved a C-plus average with his grades at Mt. San Jacinto but was eligible for entrance under a Californian scheme that allowed 2% of undergraduates to be admitted at a level below the usual academic requirements. Presley submitted a letter of intent to play for the Golden Bears in April 1967.{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title=Nick's Notebook |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-nicks-notebook-52/164161137/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=May 2, 1967 |page=11 |via=Newspapers.com}} He was expected "to become one of the best centers in the country" with the Golden Bears.

In the first 12 games of the 1967–68 season, Presley averaged a team-leading 22.2 points and 16.4 rebounds per game.{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Frank |title=Suspension Slaps Bears' Star Presley |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-suspension-slaps-be/164212858/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=January 19, 1968 |page=12 |via=Newspapers.com}} A professional scout noted that, "next to Lew Alcindor, [Presley] is the best big man in the nation."

===Suspension and protest===

On January 18, 1968, Golden Bears head coach Rene Herrerias announced that Presley was suspended indefinitely but did not elaborate on the reason. A California athletic department source stated that the suspension was because of "rule violations". On January 20, Herrerias reinstated Presley to the team and again declined to give reasoning.{{cite news |title=Another Chance For Presley |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-another-chance-for/164213041/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=January 20, 1968 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} On January 22, a team meeting occurred where the black players begged off and sided with Presley.{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title=Cal's Caucasion Cagers Stay Firm, Won't Rejoin Club |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-cals-caucasion-cag/164215621/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=January 24, 1968 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}} Later that day, 11 white players and a manager of the Golden Bears basketball team resigned in support of Herrerias after allegations that administrative pressure was invoked to have Presley reinstated.{{cite news |title=12 Quit UC Cage Squad |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-12-quit-uc-cage-squ/164213074/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=January 23, 1968 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

On January 23, Presley appeared alongside a group representing black athletes at the University of California, Berkeley who made demands that California fire Herrerias and Golden Bears football assistant coaches Bill Dutton and Joe Marvin "for reasons of their inability or unwillingness to relate to Black Athletes."{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title=Negro Athletes Seek Ouster of UC Coaches |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-negro-athletes-seek/164215829/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=January 24, 1968 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} They also declared that black athletes at the university had been subjected to derogatory comments because of their appearance, had to find housing on their own and received poor academic counselling because of an assumption they lacked intelligence.{{cite magazine |title=Scorecard |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1968/02/05/scorecard |magazine=Sports Illustrated |access-date=January 29, 2025 |date=February 5, 1968}} Presley stated that he was "shocked" at the action of the white players quitting the team and claimed that he did not think Herrerias was "qualified to coach." He also alleged that he was suspended because he refused to get a haircut; this was denied by both Herrerias and California athletic director Pete Newell. Presley was one of the first collegiate athletes who donned an afro; he would maintain for the rest of his life that his refusal to cut it was the reason for his suspension.{{cite news |last1=Schoenfeld |first1=Ed |title=Presley's Found In River |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-presleys-found-in-river/164158708/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Oakland Tribune |date=May 14, 1975 |page=39 |via=Newspapers.com}} The 11 players responded to the black athletes' demands with a statement on 23 January that urged "all team members, both black and white, be treated equally and fairly."{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title=Cal Cagers Stress 'Pressure to Reinstate Presley' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-cal-cagers-stress/164215632/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=January 24, 1968 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}}

On January 24, Presley and all members of the Golden Bears returned to practice.{{cite news |last1=Lembke |first1=Daryl E. |title=Negro, White Players at Cal Report to Basketball Practice |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-negro-white-playe/164159608/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 25, 1968 |page=49 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title=Cal Cagers, Embattled Herrerias Return to Drawing Board |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-cal-cagers-embattl/164216712/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkerley Gazette |date=January 25, 1968 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}} The 11 players had relented after they had a conference with Herrerias where he confirmed that he made the decision to reinstate Presley.{{cite news |last1=Lembke |first1=Daryl E. |title=Cal Players |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-cal-players/164159550/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=January 25, 1968 |page=57 |via=Newspapers.com}} On February 2, Presley appeared in his first game with the Golden Bears since his suspension where a team spokesman observed there was no sign of the short-lived racial rebellion.{{cite news |title=Falcons Topple Cal Five |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-falcons-topple-cal-five/164216842/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Oakland Tribune |date=February 3, 1968 |page=16 |via=Newspapers.com}} On February 10, Presley was returned to the Golden Bears' starting line-up.{{cite news |last1=Rickard |first1=Jack |title=Ricks Ramblings... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/corvallis-gazette-times-ricks-ramblings/164217336/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Corvallis Gazette-Times |date=February 14, 1968 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}} Presley finished the season with averages of 18.1 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.{{cite news |title=Big Lew Gets Most Stax Titles |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesman-journal-1968-basketball-b-pac/15208762/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Statesman Journal |date=March 15, 1968 |page=19 |via=Newspapers.com}} He set a program record with 27 rebounds in a game against the Saint Mary's Gaels.{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title=Nick's Notebook |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-nicks-notebook-11/164172947/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=November 27, 1968 |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com}} Presley was selected to the All-Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) second-team in 1968.{{cite news |title=Alcindor, Critchfield Head Pacific-8 All-Star Cagers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald-alcindor-critchfield-he/164217961/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Tri-City Herald |date=March 14, 1968 |page=26 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In March 1968, Newell resigned as California athletic director; the Los Angeles Times alleged that it was the result of the Presley scandal and made Newell "the first casualty of racial unrest in college sports."{{cite news |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Paul |title=Negro Unrest Plagued Newell |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-negro-unrest-plagu/164217908/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Los Angeles Times |date=March 15, 1968 |page=42 |via=Newspapers.com}} On April 11, Herrerias resigned as head coach and stated that the black protest was a contribution but not "the sole factor" in his desire to leave.{{cite news |last1=Brachman |first1=Bob |title=Herrerias Move Shows Cal Unrest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-herrerias-mov/164172507/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=April 12, 1968 |page=46 |via=Newspapers.com}} Presley announced that Herrerias' resignation was "a great thing" as he had been contemplating not returning to the basketball team if Herrerias was to stay.{{cite news |title=Presley 'Glad' Rene Quit Cal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-presley-glad/164172538/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=April 12, 1968 |page=46 |via=Newspapers.com}} Herrerias was replaced by freshman coach Jim Padgett.{{cite news |title=Cal's Negro Athletes Laud New Coaches |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-cals-negro-athletes/164172628/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Ventura County Star |date=April 25, 1968 |page=22 |via=Newspapers.com}}

==Senior season==

In a November 1968 interview, Presley stated: "All the ill feelings from last year are gone, because the causes are gone." He praised Padgett for his coaching methods that utilised Presley as the focal point of the team. He averaged a team-high 10.4 rebounds but the Golden Bears languished to a 12–13 record during the 1968–69 season.{{cite news |title=Alcindor Reigns, Atop Pac-8 Again |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-alcindor-reigns-atop-pa/164220214/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Oakland Tribune |date=March 12, 1969 |page=42 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Professional career

On April 15, 1969, Presley was selected by the Denver Rockets in the second round of the 1969 American Basketball Association (ABA) draft.{{cite news |title=Griffin picked by Oakland |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-griffin-pick/164220399/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Peninsula Times Tribune |date=April 15, 1969 |page=29 |via=Newspapers.com}} On April 26, he signed a three-year contract with the Rockets.{{cite news |title=Cal Center Signs Denver Contract |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/oakland-tribune-cal-center-signs-denver/164173370/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Oakland Tribune |date=April 27, 1969 |page=53 |via=Newspapers.com}} Bill Ringsby, the Rockets president, stated that the team considered Presley "a fantastic player who is destined to become a superstar." On May 7, Presley was also selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 11th round of the 1969 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft.{{cite news |title=Warriors Draft Girl |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-warriors-draf/164173539/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=May 7, 1969 |page=67 |via=Newspapers.com}}

On September 23, 1969, Presley participated in a workout with the Rockets and then left the team training camp with no explanation.{{cite news |title=Bob Presley Walks Out On Rockets |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-bob-presley-w/164173760/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=September 23, 1969 |page=57 |via=Newspapers.com}} Head coach John McLendon did not speculate on why Presley had left but admitted that he had criticised Presley for lagging. McLendon claimed that Presley would be the sixth center in his line-up and was unlikely to make the team if he stayed.{{cite news |last1=Fraser |first1=Morris |title=Learns From Many |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/colorado-springs-gazette-telegraph-learn/164173992/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Colorado Springs Gazette-Telegraph |date=October 7, 1969 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}} A Rockets spokesman stated: "we may have to write it off as a bad investment. I don't think management is too concerned right now." In a 1971 interview, Presley claimed that he left the team because they refused to pay his bonus and McLendon enforced an intensive training program.{{cite news |last1=Kaplan |first1=Paul |title=Presley a freak in Philippines, but what now? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-presley-a-freak-in-philip/164159819/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Miami News |date=September 17, 1971 |page=18 |via=Newspapers.com}} Presley's contract with the Rockets meant that he could not play for another team in either the ABA or NBA without additional action by the team. Using the $10,000 that he received by showing up to Rockets training camp, Presley briefly moved to Europe before he returned to the United States in October 1969.{{cite news |title=Former UC Basketball Star Is Arrested; Girl Claims She Was Victim of Kidnap |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-former-uc-basketbal/164174871/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=November 12, 1969 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

On November 13, 1969, Presley was jailed on charges that he orchestrated an alleged traveller's cheque fraud in Berkeley, California.{{cite news |title=Ex-Cal cager lands in jail |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-peninsula-times-tribune-ex-cal-cager/164174084/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Peninsula Times Tribune |date=November 13, 1969 |page=32 |via=Newspapers.com}} In December, he was charged with grand theft while charges of conspiracy and fraudulent use of checks were dropped.{{cite news |title=Ex-Cal Cager Admits Theft |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-ex-cal-cager/164174265/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=August 20, 1970 |page=14 |via=Newspapers.com}} On August 19, 1970, Presley pleaded guilty to grand theft. On September 23, Presley was sentenced to six months imprisonment.{{cite news |title=Presley Sentenced For Check Swindle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-presley-sentenced-f/164159677/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=September 24, 1970 |page=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1971, Presley played for the Meralco Kilowatts in the Philippines. Playing alongside Robert Jaworski and Alberto Reynoso, the team won the Manila Industrial and Commercial Athletic Association (MICAA) championship. Presley returned to the United States and contacted Bob Bass who had drafted him on the Rockets; Bass suggested that he join him on the Miami Floridians of the ABA. Presley signed with the Floridians in August 1971.{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title=Burke Tourney Star; Presley In Local Loop |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-burke-tourney-star/164159973/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=August 6, 1971 |page=7 |via=Newspapers.com}} On October 4, Presley was the final player cut by the Floridians before the start of the 1971–72 ABA season.{{cite news |title=Floridians Cut 6-11 Bob Presley |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-floridians-cut-6-11-bob/164159845/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Miami Herald |date=October 5, 1971 |page=82 |via=Newspapers.com}} He returned to the Philippines for the 1972 season and then had a short playing stint in Belgium.{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title='New' Presley returns to local courts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-independent-new-presley-returns-to/164160947/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Independent |date=November 3, 1973 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In 1973, Presley joined the Richmond Believers of the Western Basketball Association (WBA). The team folded in January 1974,{{cite news |title=Believers Drop Out |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee-believers-drop-out/164227193/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Sacramento Bee |date=January 4, 1974 |page=20 |via=Newspapers.com}} and Presley moved to the San Francisco Sugar Hills for the remainder of the season. In 1974, he unsuccessfully tried out for the International Basketball Association. He returned to the WBA where he joined the Martinez Muirs for the 1974–75 season. He was paid $50 per weekend to play for the Muirs. Presley led the WBA with 13.0 rebounds per game while his 20.6 points ranked fourth best.{{cite news |title=Presley, Lee top stats |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/concord-transcript-presley-lee-top-stat/164223712/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Concord Transcript |date=March 26, 1975 |page=10 |via=Newspapers.com}}

In a March 1975 interview, Presley lamented how his professional career had unfolded and credited his problems to his suspension at California. He believed that "the system won't let [him] play." Presley stated: "I'm going to give it one more year because I'm still motivated enough to feel I can make it, I would do a lot of things different if I had the chance again but it doesn't do any good to look back."{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title=Presley would do things differently |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-presley-would-do-th/164158812/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=March 12, 1975 |page=17 |via=Newspapers.com}}

Personal life

Presley was married but experienced a sadomasochistic relationship with his wife. Before their marriage, he had convinced her to become a prostitute so that he could work as her pimp. Presley attempted to run a bar and drive-in restaurant which both failed as business ventures. He was unable to keep other jobs which friends helped him to attain. Presley's wife was the sole money earner in their relationship and Presley was primarily relegated to working as a homemaker. His wife ultimately left him in 1975.{{cite news |last1=Wilheim |first1=John |title=Bob Presley: tragic story of cager's life |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer-bob-presley-tragi/164174937/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Battle Creek Enquirer |date=April 13, 1980 |page=32 |via=Newspapers.com}} Presley worked as a janitor to supplement his income while playing for the Muirs.

At the conclusion of the WBA season, Presley experienced a mental breakdown. In March 1975, Presley went to the Northwestern United States to seek an opportunity with the Seattle SuperSonics or Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. His Muirs head coach, Dale Hall, attempted to arrange a tryout with the SuperSonics.{{cite news |last1=Peters |first1=Nick |title=Frustrations finally caught up with Pres |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-frustrations-finall/164158771/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=May 21, 1975 |page=15 |via=Newspapers.com}} Presley attended a SuperSonics game where he directed abusive remarks at rookie center Tommy Burleson and had to be evicted from the locker room by head coach Bill Russell.

Death

The day after his SuperSonics confrontation, Presley travelled to Portland, Oregon. He lodged that night with a couple where he had another mental breakdown, wore a skirt and called himself "the wife" in his relationship. A few hours later, on March 25, 1975, Presley reportedly jumped from the Hawthorne Bridge into the Willamette River.

On May 11, 1975, a decomposed body was spotted floating in the Willamette River by a tugboat.{{cite news |title=7-foot man found dead |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-oregonian-7-foot-man-found-dead/164158893/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Oregonian |date=May 12, 1975 |page=8 |via=Newspapers.com}} It was believed to have been in the water for several weeks. The body was reported as being 7-foot tall; Portland police stated that they had no report of a missing man that size. Two phone numbers were found on the body: one for a listing in Detroit and another for Muirs head coach Hall.{{cite news |title=Body found at Portland–Presley? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-body-found-at-portl/164158913/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The Berkeley Gazette |date=May 12, 1975 |page=13 |via=Newspapers.com}} The Berkeley Gazette speculated that the body was Presley's on May 12, which was confirmed when identification was made from fingerprints the following day.{{cite news |title=Ex-Cal hoop star Presley found dead in Willamette river |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-ex-cal-hoop-s/164158850/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=The San Francisco Examiner |date=May 14, 1975 |page=62 |via=Newspapers.com}} A medical examiner declared that Presley had died of drowning, and his death was ruled a suicide.{{cite news |last1=Hall |first1=Mike |title=Herb Michelson writes compellingly about Robert N. Presley's downfall |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-herb-michelson-writes-com/164175152/ |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Clarion-Ledger |date=August 3, 1980 |page=71 |via=Newspapers.com}}