Gary Dan McPherson, 82, of Morgantown, W.Va., passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2018 with his wife by his side, as she has been since they were married 60 years ago. He was born on July 5, 1936 in Cass, W.Va., son of the late Lyle and Audra McPherson.
Upon his graduation from Green Bank High School in 1954, he was awarded a football scholarship to attend Washington and Lee University where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. The football scholarship was changed to basketball when the University ended its football program. He graduated with a teaching degree in 1958 with a specialization in history.
Following graduation, he married his sweetheart, Peggy Sheets, from Green Bank, W.Va., whom he'd known since seventh grade. They married on August 9, 1958 and one week later, began their 60-year journey into the world of teaching and coaching. They moved to Chase City, Va., where Gary began his first job as a history teacher and as the Bluestone High School football and basketball coach, where he was given the nickname, Coach Mac. From Bluestone High School, he moved on to Ferrum Junior College as their football and basketball coach.
In 1964, Gary was hired as the Head Coach of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets Basketball team, where he stayed until 1969. During the summers, he worked as a staff coach at Camp Wahoo Basketball Camp near Charlottesville, Va., where he instructed future bestselling author, Pat Conroy. In fact, in Conroy's book, "My Losing Season", he specifically mentioned Coach Mac. They remained lifelong friends.
During his tenure with VMI, Coach Mac attended summer classes at the University of Virginia to earn his master's degree in education in 1964. While at VMI, he considered his greatest coaching achievements to be his victories over the West Virginia University Mountaineers, VMI's Southern Conference rival.
Gary joined Sonny Moran's WVU staff in 1970 and stayed until 1974. After moving on to Alderson Broaddus as Head Coach and then to Cincinnati as Gale Catlett's Assistant Coach, he returned to WVU as Assistant Coach with Catlett in 1978. Following 15 seasons at WVU, he left coaching to work with the Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) bringing countless friends and financial supporters to WVU Athletics. He held membership in the National Association of Basketball Coaches and attended almost every Final Four. He was a tremendous storyteller and had a great love for the Boston Red Sox. Basketball, coaching, and life in general never produced a finer gentleman!
In addition to his wife, Peggy, Gary is survived by his daughter, Melissa "Missy" McPherson, of Jacksonville, Fla.; his daughter in law, Patty McPherson; brother in law, Charles Sheets, and wife Carolyn; sister in law, Jeanne Carter; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He is also survived by his neighborhood grandchildren, Elizabeth Gallon Howley, Nick Gallon and Emily Gallon Burnside, and great-grandchildren, Kaedon, Mary and Collin Howley.
In addition to his parents, Gary was preceded in death by a son, Chris McPherson; and sister, Patty (McPherson) Gibson.
Friends and family will be received from 2 to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, December 11, at Suncrest United Methodist Church, 479 Van Voorhis Rd., Morgantown, and again from 10 to 11 a.m., on Wednesday, December 12.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, December 12, at the church, with Rev. Mike Estep and Rev. Junius Lewis officiating. In keeping with Gary's wishes, cremation will take place following the service.
Upon his graduation from Green Bank High School in 1954, he was awarded a football scholarship to attend Washington and Lee University where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. The football scholarship was changed to basketball when the University ended its football program. He graduated with a teaching degree in 1958 with a specialization in history.
Following graduation, he married his sweetheart, Peggy Sheets, from Green Bank, W.Va., whom he'd known since seventh grade. They married on August 9, 1958 and one week later, began their 60-year journey into the world of teaching and coaching. They moved to Chase City, Va., where Gary began his first job as a history teacher and as the Bluestone High School football and basketball coach, where he was given the nickname, Coach Mac. From Bluestone High School, he moved on to Ferrum Junior College as their football and basketball coach.
In 1964, Gary was hired as the Head Coach of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets Basketball team, where he stayed until 1969. During the summers, he worked as a staff coach at Camp Wahoo Basketball Camp near Charlottesville, Va., where he instructed future bestselling author, Pat Conroy. In fact, in Conroy's book, "My Losing Season", he specifically mentioned Coach Mac. They remained lifelong friends.
During his tenure with VMI, Coach Mac attended summer classes at the University of Virginia to earn his master's degree in education in 1964. While at VMI, he considered his greatest coaching achievements to be his victories over the West Virginia University Mountaineers, VMI's Southern Conference rival.
Gary joined Sonny Moran's WVU staff in 1970 and stayed until 1974. After moving on to Alderson Broaddus as Head Coach and then to Cincinnati as Gale Catlett's Assistant Coach, he returned to WVU as Assistant Coach with Catlett in 1978. Following 15 seasons at WVU, he left coaching to work with the Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) bringing countless friends and financial supporters to WVU Athletics. He held membership in the National Association of Basketball Coaches and attended almost every Final Four. He was a tremendous storyteller and had a great love for the Boston Red Sox. Basketball, coaching, and life in general never produced a finer gentleman!
In addition to his wife, Peggy, Gary is survived by his daughter, Melissa "Missy" McPherson, of Jacksonville, Fla.; his daughter in law, Patty McPherson; brother in law, Charles Sheets, and wife Carolyn; sister in law, Jeanne Carter; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He is also survived by his neighborhood grandchildren, Elizabeth Gallon Howley, Nick Gallon and Emily Gallon Burnside, and great-grandchildren, Kaedon, Mary and Collin Howley.
In addition to his parents, Gary was preceded in death by a son, Chris McPherson; and sister, Patty (McPherson) Gibson.
Friends and family will be received from 2 to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, December 11, at Suncrest United Methodist Church, 479 Van Voorhis Rd., Morgantown, and again from 10 to 11 a.m., on Wednesday, December 12.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, December 12, at the church, with Rev. Mike Estep and Rev. Junius Lewis officiating. In keeping with Gary's wishes, cremation will take place following the service.
Gary Dan McPherson, 82, of Morgantown, W.Va., passed away Wednesday, December 5, 2018 with his wife by his side, as she has been since they were married 60 years ago. He was born on July 5, 1936 in Cass, W.Va., son of the late Lyle and Audra McPherson.
Upon his graduation from Green Bank High School in 1954, he was awarded a football scholarship to attend Washington and Lee University where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. The football scholarship was changed to basketball when the University ended its football program. He graduated with a teaching degree in 1958 with a specialization in history.
Following graduation, he married his sweetheart, Peggy Sheets, from Green Bank, W.Va., whom he'd known since seventh grade. They married on August 9, 1958 and one week later, began their 60-year journey into the world of teaching and coaching. They moved to Chase City, Va., where Gary began his first job as a history teacher and as the Bluestone High School football and basketball coach, where he was given the nickname, Coach Mac. From Bluestone High School, he moved on to Ferrum Junior College as their football and basketball coach.
In 1964, Gary was hired as the Head Coach of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets Basketball team, where he stayed until 1969. During the summers, he worked as a staff coach at Camp Wahoo Basketball Camp near Charlottesville, Va., where he instructed future bestselling author, Pat Conroy. In fact, in Conroy's book, "My Losing Season", he specifically mentioned Coach Mac. They remained lifelong friends.
During his tenure with VMI, Coach Mac attended summer classes at the University of Virginia to earn his master's degree in education in 1964. While at VMI, he considered his greatest coaching achievements to be his victories over the West Virginia University Mountaineers, VMI's Southern Conference rival.
Gary joined Sonny Moran's WVU staff in 1970 and stayed until 1974. After moving on to Alderson Broaddus as Head Coach and then to Cincinnati as Gale Catlett's Assistant Coach, he returned to WVU as Assistant Coach with Catlett in 1978. Following 15 seasons at WVU, he left coaching to work with the Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) bringing countless friends and financial supporters to WVU Athletics. He held membership in the National Association of Basketball Coaches and attended almost every Final Four. He was a tremendous storyteller and had a great love for the Boston Red Sox. Basketball, coaching, and life in general never produced a finer gentleman!
In addition to his wife, Peggy, Gary is survived by his daughter, Melissa "Missy" McPherson, of Jacksonville, Fla.; his daughter in law, Patty McPherson; brother in law, Charles Sheets, and wife Carolyn; sister in law, Jeanne Carter; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He is also survived by his neighborhood grandchildren, Elizabeth Gallon Howley, Nick Gallon and Emily Gallon Burnside, and great-grandchildren, Kaedon, Mary and Collin Howley.
In addition to his parents, Gary was preceded in death by a son, Chris McPherson; and sister, Patty (McPherson) Gibson.
Friends and family will be received from 2 to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, December 11, at Suncrest United Methodist Church, 479 Van Voorhis Rd., Morgantown, and again from 10 to 11 a.m., on Wednesday, December 12.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, December 12, at the church, with Rev. Mike Estep and Rev. Junius Lewis officiating. In keeping with Gary's wishes, cremation will take place following the service.
Upon his graduation from Green Bank High School in 1954, he was awarded a football scholarship to attend Washington and Lee University where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. The football scholarship was changed to basketball when the University ended its football program. He graduated with a teaching degree in 1958 with a specialization in history.
Following graduation, he married his sweetheart, Peggy Sheets, from Green Bank, W.Va., whom he'd known since seventh grade. They married on August 9, 1958 and one week later, began their 60-year journey into the world of teaching and coaching. They moved to Chase City, Va., where Gary began his first job as a history teacher and as the Bluestone High School football and basketball coach, where he was given the nickname, Coach Mac. From Bluestone High School, he moved on to Ferrum Junior College as their football and basketball coach.
In 1964, Gary was hired as the Head Coach of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets Basketball team, where he stayed until 1969. During the summers, he worked as a staff coach at Camp Wahoo Basketball Camp near Charlottesville, Va., where he instructed future bestselling author, Pat Conroy. In fact, in Conroy's book, "My Losing Season", he specifically mentioned Coach Mac. They remained lifelong friends.
During his tenure with VMI, Coach Mac attended summer classes at the University of Virginia to earn his master's degree in education in 1964. While at VMI, he considered his greatest coaching achievements to be his victories over the West Virginia University Mountaineers, VMI's Southern Conference rival.
Gary joined Sonny Moran's WVU staff in 1970 and stayed until 1974. After moving on to Alderson Broaddus as Head Coach and then to Cincinnati as Gale Catlett's Assistant Coach, he returned to WVU as Assistant Coach with Catlett in 1978. Following 15 seasons at WVU, he left coaching to work with the Mountaineer Athletic Club (MAC) bringing countless friends and financial supporters to WVU Athletics. He held membership in the National Association of Basketball Coaches and attended almost every Final Four. He was a tremendous storyteller and had a great love for the Boston Red Sox. Basketball, coaching, and life in general never produced a finer gentleman!
In addition to his wife, Peggy, Gary is survived by his daughter, Melissa "Missy" McPherson, of Jacksonville, Fla.; his daughter in law, Patty McPherson; brother in law, Charles Sheets, and wife Carolyn; sister in law, Jeanne Carter; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He is also survived by his neighborhood grandchildren, Elizabeth Gallon Howley, Nick Gallon and Emily Gallon Burnside, and great-grandchildren, Kaedon, Mary and Collin Howley.
In addition to his parents, Gary was preceded in death by a son, Chris McPherson; and sister, Patty (McPherson) Gibson.
Friends and family will be received from 2 to 8 p.m., on Tuesday, December 11, at Suncrest United Methodist Church, 479 Van Voorhis Rd., Morgantown, and again from 10 to 11 a.m., on Wednesday, December 12.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, December 12, at the church, with Rev. Mike Estep and Rev. Junius Lewis officiating. In keeping with Gary's wishes, cremation will take place following the service.
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