Dale Oliver McCoy Jr.

Dale grew up in Sterling, Co. He was an actual Colorado native and proud of it. Though times were often tough at home, he found happiness playing ball—all kinds. He and his little brother Pat would leave the house in the morning and play all day, only stopping to work in one of their money-making schemes. In school, the tall skinny Dale went out for every team. He punted the football, played basketball and baseball. He continued school at Northeastern Jr. College, playing basketball and working full time to pay his way and help out his mother.

At UNC, Dale majored in P.E., tended bar at The Library (best bar name in a college town ever!) and met Peggy. He proposed after 2 dates, they married in June. They were married 56 years.

Being a father fulfilled Dale, he cherished Brenna and Quinn and also nephew Nep. He worked hard to show them how to become good people .Family meant everything.

Dale’s career in Education was driven by his desire to coach. So off he went---Junior High basketball in Windsor, JV basketball and Tennis at Thornton, Head coach at Mullen, Columbine, Arapahoe, Northglenn and Smoky Hill. He liked to say “Coach is my name, kids are my game” He loved everything about coaching most of all the kids, but also the discipline, the life lessons, the how’s and whys of becoming better and finally sharing all this with his son.

School administration took Dale out of the gym, but he saw that as just a different kind of coaching, helping adults do a better job for kids. He ended 35 years in education as principal of Alameda High School.

Retirement meant freedom to play. Dale wrote poetry ardently, publishing a book of his poems.. He was in a movie! There was travel—to ball parks, Blues festivals, spring training, Mexico and many mountain hikes. Dale doted on his mother, visiting, going to church, playing gin and organizing massive gala birthday parties for her around the pool.

Sadly, Frontal Temporal Dementia stole the ending years of Dale’s life. It was heartbreaking to see him lose the ability to care deeply about his home, family and previous life. It was a tragedy that he didn’t get to be a great Papa to his terrific grandchildren Elise, Maggie, Brooks and Tegan.

Although he lost much of himself, until the end, he had a lively interest in people and loved to talk with them.