Thomas McVay, born December 7th, 1920 in Wildsville, LA,1
was a professional baseball player from 1948-1949.
Biography
McVay died on March 30th, 2005 in Edmond, OK.2 He was buried in Macedonia Cemetery in Holly Grove, AR.3
Excerpts
"Coach Tom McVay passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2005, in Edmond, Okla. He was born Dec. 7, 1920 in Wildsville, La. to C.H. and Essie McVay . He graduated from Stuttgart High School in 1939. He was a four-sport letterman and was named to the All-State football team and was honored as a member of the All-Time Ricebird Football team. Tom accepted a football and basketball scholarship to the University of Arkansas, but his career was interrupted by military service in World War II. He married the love of his life, Helen Boals, on Feb. 2, 1941. He enrolled in Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla. in 1947 and was a three-sport letterman in football, basketball and track. He played semi-pro baseball for the Sherman-Denison Twins and the Ardmore Indians. Coach McVay began his 30-year coaching career at Antlers High School in 1949, where he spent two years. His team won a District Championship in 1950. He began a six-year career at Maysville High School in 1951. His teams captured state football championships in 1953 and 1954. Maysville won five consecutive District Championships in football and his track teams won six straight Regional Championships. The track team was state runner-up in 1953 and was third in the state in 1954. He moved to Wetumka for one season and his 1958 track team captured the Regional Championship. After leaving Wetumka, Coach McVay spent 15 seasons at Beaver High School. His football teams won State Championships in 1959, 1960 and 1962, and captured 12 District titles. His track teams won the Regional Championships in 1962 and 1968. After winning the state championship at Beaver in 1960, he was selected to coach the Oil Bowl football game. In 1962, he was the Oklahoma Coaches Association Coach of the Year and coached the All-State football game. He was chosen as the District Five Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association in 1968 and 1978. The football stadium at Beaver was named Tom McVay Stadium in 1996. McVay spent three years at Durant High School at the helm of the Lions, and closed his career by coaching two years at Dickson High School from 1977-1979. Coach McVay posted a career record of 213-89-9. His teams won 19 District Championships, seven Regional titles, and five State Championships. He produced 12 Oklahoma All-State football players and five high school Prep All-Americans. He had more than 50 former players who became high school coaches. Coach McVay was honored with many awards and honors throughout his life, but his proudest achievement was his family. He was also proud of his "second family," the many former athletes and students who continued to be a part of his life. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Helen, and son-in-law, Ike Groce. He is survived by his children: daughter Carolyn Groce of Stillwater, Okla./Lewisville, Texas; son Tommy and wife Chele of Lubbock, Texas; son Donnie and wife Leslie of Edmond, Okla.; daughter Sharon Dunham and husband James of Durant, Okla.; son Mike and wife Nancy of Beaver, Okla.; daughter Pam Young and husband Robert of Edmond; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; brothers Larry McVay of Metairie, La. and Jiggs McVay of Little Rock; sisters Dorothy Perez and Martha Monrose of Baton Rouge, La.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services were held at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, Edmond, on Saturday, April 2, 2005, under the direction of Baggerly Memorial Funeral Home, Oklahoma City."4
Stats
Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.
Biography
McVay died on March 30th, 2005 in Edmond, OK.2 He was buried in Macedonia Cemetery in Holly Grove, AR.3
Excerpts
"Coach Tom McVay passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2005, in Edmond, Okla. He was born Dec. 7, 1920 in Wildsville, La. to C.H. and Essie McVay . He graduated from Stuttgart High School in 1939. He was a four-sport letterman and was named to the All-State football team and was honored as a member of the All-Time Ricebird Football team. Tom accepted a football and basketball scholarship to the University of Arkansas, but his career was interrupted by military service in World War II. He married the love of his life, Helen Boals, on Feb. 2, 1941. He enrolled in Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla. in 1947 and was a three-sport letterman in football, basketball and track. He played semi-pro baseball for the Sherman-Denison Twins and the Ardmore Indians. Coach McVay began his 30-year coaching career at Antlers High School in 1949, where he spent two years. His team won a District Championship in 1950. He began a six-year career at Maysville High School in 1951. His teams captured state football championships in 1953 and 1954. Maysville won five consecutive District Championships in football and his track teams won six straight Regional Championships. The track team was state runner-up in 1953 and was third in the state in 1954. He moved to Wetumka for one season and his 1958 track team captured the Regional Championship. After leaving Wetumka, Coach McVay spent 15 seasons at Beaver High School. His football teams won State Championships in 1959, 1960 and 1962, and captured 12 District titles. His track teams won the Regional Championships in 1962 and 1968. After winning the state championship at Beaver in 1960, he was selected to coach the Oil Bowl football game. In 1962, he was the Oklahoma Coaches Association Coach of the Year and coached the All-State football game. He was chosen as the District Five Coach of the Year by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association in 1968 and 1978. The football stadium at Beaver was named Tom McVay Stadium in 1996. McVay spent three years at Durant High School at the helm of the Lions, and closed his career by coaching two years at Dickson High School from 1977-1979. Coach McVay posted a career record of 213-89-9. His teams won 19 District Championships, seven Regional titles, and five State Championships. He produced 12 Oklahoma All-State football players and five high school Prep All-Americans. He had more than 50 former players who became high school coaches. Coach McVay was honored with many awards and honors throughout his life, but his proudest achievement was his family. He was also proud of his "second family," the many former athletes and students who continued to be a part of his life. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years, Helen, and son-in-law, Ike Groce. He is survived by his children: daughter Carolyn Groce of Stillwater, Okla./Lewisville, Texas; son Tommy and wife Chele of Lubbock, Texas; son Donnie and wife Leslie of Edmond, Okla.; daughter Sharon Dunham and husband James of Durant, Okla.; son Mike and wife Nancy of Beaver, Okla.; daughter Pam Young and husband Robert of Edmond; 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; brothers Larry McVay of Metairie, La. and Jiggs McVay of Little Rock; sisters Dorothy Perez and Martha Monrose of Baton Rouge, La.; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services were held at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, Edmond, on Saturday, April 2, 2005, under the direction of Baggerly Memorial Funeral Home, Oklahoma City."4
Stats
Statistics at Baseball-Reference.com.
1
Stuttgart Daily Leader, 4/5/2005
2
Stuttgart Daily Leader, 4/5/2005
4
Stuttgart Daily Leader, 4/5/2005