[3][4] Standing 6 feet 1+1⁄2 inches (1.87 m) and weighing 170 pounds (77 kg),[5] Linthicum played as a forward and became UCLA's first accomplished basketball player.

[9] Also named as an All-American with Linthicum in both seasons was Purdue's John Wooden,[9][10] who later coached UCLA to 10 national championships.

[5] He finished his career widely considered by PCC coaches to be the conference's best all-around player in the past decade.

[11] After his playing career ended, Linthicum was a UCLA assistant coach and scout for five seasons.

He was initially in the South Pacific during World War II, and later served in Asia, Europe, and the Mediterranean.

Afterwards, Linthicum worked in the CIA for 16 years, supervising various activities, with executive-level assignments in Washington, D.C., Europe, and the Middle East.