Sailors was born January 14, 1921, in Bushnell, Nebraska,[4] and grew up on a farm south of Hillsdale, Wyoming, where he developed his effective jump shot while playing against his 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) older brother Barton (known as Bud).

[3] Sailors eventually brought his skills to the University of Wyoming, and he led the Cowboys to the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship in 1943.

[6] From 1946 to 1951, Sailors played professionally in the BAA and NBA as a member of the Cleveland Rebels, Chicago Stags, Philadelphia Warriors, Providence Steamrollers, Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, and Baltimore Bullets.

He was second in the BAA in total assists in 1946–47, was named to the All-BAA 2nd team in 1948–49, and averaged a career high 17.3 points per game in the 1949–50 season.

[8] After retirement from pro basketball, in 1951 Sailors chose to move to Glennallen, Alaska where he became a high school teacher and coach.