Francis Walsh, 81, Northeastern hoop legend

“That kind of made me mad,’’ Mr. Walsh, who was known as Inga, said in a 1949 Globe story during his final season as Northeastern University basketball captain, the same year the 6-foot-5 center was named to the All-New England Team.

Mr. Walsh averaged 20 points per game that season, after which he was signed to a one-year contract - for $3,500 - by the New York Knickerbockers of the National Basketball Association.

Mr. Walsh, considered the first dominant basketball player in Northeastern history and one of the original six members of the university’s athletic Hall of Fame (induction class of 1974), died Monday at Brigham and Women’s Hospital of stroke complications. He was 81.

“First of all, he was one of the nicest guys you’d want to meet. The glass was always half full with Inga, he had a great outlook on life, and I can never recall seeing him angry,’’ said his former Northeastern teammate Charlie Diehl of Arlington, his close friend for more than 60 years. “And he was an excellent player, as good as anyone I’ve ever played with. Offensively, he had excellent movement; he could shoot with either hand, and he had great basketball sense.’’

Mr. Walsh said in the Globe story that he became a proponent of the one-handed shot after attending a Northeastern game in which Ernie Calverley, a star at the University of Rhode Island, featured it. Mr. Walsh didn’t do badly with it either, leading the region in field goal percentage as a senior along with another All-New England first-team player, Bob Cousy, the Holy Cross guard who went on to stardom with the Boston Celtics.

Mr. Walsh, who was invited to the Knicks training camp, but did not make the team, was such an impact player in college, however, that Northeastern coach Johnny Grinnell remarked in a 1948 interview with the student newspaper “I wish I had a dozen more like him.’’

According to Mr. Walsh’s son, Edwin P. of Milton, his father did not grow up in a sports-oriented family. “When he first tried out for basketball at Milton High, he hadn’t played the game. But being cut was a turning point because it motivated him. And his induction as the first basketball player to the Northeastern Hall of Fame (he also was a varsity baseball player at NU) was always special to him.’’

Mr. Walsh, a vice president at South Boston Savings Bank, lived in Randolph from 1958 to 1989, where he coached Babe Ruth and Catholic Youth Organization baseball and was a coach with the Randolph Town baseball team in the Cranberry League. He was also a director of youth basketball programs in Milton.

Mr. Walsh, who got his nickname in high school because “Inga’’ rhymed with “finger,’’ which was apparently broken more than once because of basketball, was born in Dorchester and graduated from Milton High in 1944.

“My dad was chosen for induction to the Milton High Hall of Fame last spring,’’ his son noted, “and would have been honored this coming October.’’

After high school graduation, Mr. Walsh enlisted in the Navy, and after his tryout with the Knicks, he served on Okinawa with the Army, rising to the rank of sergeant.

He completed his business degree at Northeastern in 1958 while embarking on his banking career, which ended with retirement 20 years ago.

“He loved the give-and-take with the bank customers, and he was especially close with the blue-collar workers, always finding ways to help them,’’ said his son. “When he retired, there were more than 300 people at his party in South Boston.’’

A resident of Marco Island and Naples, Fla. after his retirement, Mr. Walsh was a longtime volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity in Immokolee, Fla.

He also enjoyed boating and golf.

In addition to his son, Mr. Walsh leaves his wife of 55 years, Carolyn M. (Turner); two other sons, Francis M. of Concord and Dennis W. of Houston; and five grandchildren.

A memorial Mass will be said today at 10:30 a.m. in St. Agatha Church in Milton. Burial will be Monday at noon in Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline.