Eddie Ríos Mellado, Puerto Rican teacher and inventor of the three point line, passed away on Saturday, August 22nd, after spending three weeks in the hospital.

Ríos Mellado is credited as one of the inventors of the three-point line when he used the three-point arc in an official tournament played in 1962, eight years before it was used for the first time in the United States.

“I didn’t invent (the three-point line) for Russia or the United States,” Mellado told Primera Hoy, a Puerto Rican newspaper. “I came up with it for the children of my country and for myself to enjoy the game with them using that new rule.”

Puerto Rico‘s domestic league, the BSN, named an award after Mellado. A trophy is given to the player who makes the most three-pointers during the season.

Eddie Ríos Mellado was born in Naguabo, Puerto Rico.  He was 79 years of age. Mellado will be honored today at Puerto Rico’s Olympic Headquarters in old San Juan. (Discuss Eddie’s life in our forum)