Cancer claims life of Larry McGee, 59, an ex-football coach.
BY MATT DOYLE
World Sports Writer

Wednesday night, the front yard of the McGee residence
in north Tulsa was the gathering place for Booker T. Washington
High School football alumni from the 1980s.
All were there to pay respects to former Hornets
coach and athletic director Larry McGee.

McGee, who served as Booker T. Washington football coach and athletic director, died Wednesday after a
bout with cancer. He was 59. Services are pending with
New Dyer Funeral Home.

Melvin Gilliam, the quarterback for BTW’s 1984 state title
team. Patrick Collins, Raythan Smith and other former Hornets
swapped stories. “All of these guys out in our yard now is not a new thing. My dad has an open-door policy for his players,” said
McGee’s oldest son Garrick, who played on his dad’s 1989
team. “We’re a giant family. If you played for my dad, you
were a part of our family and probably spent the night at
our house. This is not a surprise.
. . . But this is different, because we’re all wondering
‘Where is he?’ ”

McGee came to Washington as an assistant coach in
1976 following a highly successful tenure as head football
coach at Manuel High School in Kansas City, Mo. He was elevated
to head coach in 1981, replacing legendary Hornets
coach Ed Lacy. McGee created his own legacy in nine years guiding the Hornets. His teams posted a 90-22 record before McGee retired
from coaching after the 1989 season. He stayed on as a
teacher and administrator before retiring in 2006.

“Like many coaches, he was somebody who always cared about us as players and young men,” said Gilliam. “He was the one who instilled toughness, wisdom and discipline. He was a father figure in the
lives of guys who didn’t have a father.”

McGee loved seeing what players did after leaving his
program. “He said the game is important to those who play it.
But the lessons learned from it are much more important,”
said Guy Troupe, a 1984 BTW graduate and president of a
Dallas capital management firm for athletes. “I know that
helped me with any initiative I’ve ever dealt with.”

McGee is survived by his wife of 37 years Saundra and
sons Garrick and Cedrick.

Matt Doyle 581-8316
matt.doyle@tulsaworld.com