Hall of Fame moment bigger
than sports
Keith LeClair congratulates a
player during East Carolina's run to an NCAA regional championship
in Wilson during the 2001 season. (AP Archives File Photo) |
|
Special to Bonesville.net
When Keith LeClair was inducted into the East Carolina
athletic hall of fame, it was one of those rare occasions when hearts
were moved, minds were inspired and faith in the human spirit — and in a
higher power — was rejuvenated...
He was awarded ECU's high honor for its sports heroes on Friday night, Oct. 18, in the Harvey banquet room of the Murphy
Center.
LeClair was one of six inductees this year. The incoming
hall of fame class also included Theodore “Blue” Edwards (men’s
basketball, 1987, 1989), George Koonce (football, 1989-90), Jim Meads
(swimming, 1956-60), Ray Scharf (swimming coach, 1967-82) and Milt
Sherman (wrestling, 1972-74).
Edwards averaged 26.7 points for the Pirates in the
1988-89 season and went on to play 10 seasons in the NBA. Koonce led ECU
in tackles for loss in 1990 and spent nine seasons in the NFL. Meads
helped ECU to its first national title in a team sport, the NAIA
swimming championship in 1957 and helped the Pirates accomplish the feat
again in 1959. Scharf’s teams won 11 straight Southern Conference
championships. Sherman compiled a career record of 101-13-1 and was All
American in 1975.
LeClair was baseball coach of the Pirates for five seasons from 1998
to 2002 and compiled an outstanding won-lost record of 212-96-1. His ECU
teams reached the NCAA Tournament the last four seasons, including three
times as a No. 1 regional seed. In 2002, ECU qualified as Conference USA
champions.
LeClair resigned his duties following the 2002 season because of
health considerations and was replaced by his former ECU assistant,
Randy Mazey, who has maintained the program’s goal of reaching the
College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. LeClair now serves as a special
assistant to athletic director Mike Hamrick.
For his induction speech, LeClair composed remarks that were read by
Chuck Young of Sports Works ministries. LeClair was present and received
a prolonged standing ovation from the packed hall when his hall of fame
plaque was unveiled.
The text of LeClair’s remarks at his enshrinement:
First and foremost I want to praise God for this opportunity to be
inducted in the East Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame. I certainly wish it
were under different circumstances, but just the same I am tremendously
honored to be recognized with all the great athletes, coaches and
supporters of ECU Athletics. I can’t say that I am deserving of such an
honor after only five years in the program, but I certainly think the
teams I was blessed to coach are. So on behalf of my coaches, players
and managers I accept this induction into the East Carolina University
Hall of Fame. Without the sacrifice of these young men and coaches that
worked and played for me the past five seasons this night would never
have occurred. I believe as a head coach whenever you are honored,
you’re really honoring the teams you coached. I want you guys to know I
love you and will forever remember the memories you brought to me.
With any honor there are people to thank and I would like to mention
just a few. I want to thank the Hall of Fame committee that thought
enough of our teams to include me into such a prestigious group. Thank
you. I would like to thank Mike Hamrick and Henry VanSant for giving me
a chance to be a part of such a great baseball tradition and more
importantly part of the Pirate family. This is a special place with
special people like no other in the country. I would like to recognize
my wife who has been a part of every win and every loss in my coaching
career. I know she thanks God there were more wins than losses. I don’t
think people on the outside understand how difficult it is to be a
coach’s wife. Having to spend a lot of days and nights alone raising two
kids is not easy. I have a much better perspective on what Lynn went
through now that I am confined to staying mostly at one place. I know I
have been successful because I was blessed to have a wife that allowed
me to do my job. Lynn, thanks for taking care of me all these years,
especially this past year and I want you to know how much I appreciate
what you have done and I love you.
I also would like to recognize my parents who are here tonight and
let them know how much I appreciate what they have done for me over the
years and molding me into the person I am today. Thanks and I love you.
One other person I would like to recognize who has been a special
friend to me over the past five years is Coach (George) Whitfield. Only
Coach Whit and Tommy Eason were with me from the start. Coach Whit is
the most giving and caring person I have ever met. I am a better man
from knowing you. Thanks Whit for all you have done.
I was told I only had 3 to 5 minutes to speak, but since I can’t
speak I guess you can’t blame me. So on I go.
You all know what my family and I have been through over the last
year and I would like to share some of the past year with you. Many
people ask my wife and I how we are doing almost daily. I can’t lie to
you and say every day has been great because it hasn’t. I had bad days
when I could walk and talk so I think I am entitled to a bad one every
now and then. What I want to share with you is the blessings my family
and I have witnessed over the past year in the midst of what most people
would consider a disaster.
Most people look at me on the outside and see somebody who can’t
walk, talk, eat or do anything for himself. But what most people don’t
see is the inside. I am still the same person in a lot of ways. I still
coach 3 football games on Saturday, I coached the divisional baseball
playoff games and the great part about it is I never lost a game. So you
see I am the same person mentally that I was 5 years ago. I just have a
better won-loss record. All jokes aside, 5 years ago I believe God
called me here to Greenville to coach, which I did to the best of my
ability. A year ago I believe He called me out of coaching to be a
witness for Him. The past year I have been allowed to share my faith and
play a different role in people’s lives other than winning games, but
rather the game of life. People look around in today’s society and are
scared. We have terrorists in our country, the fear of snipers, the
threat of war. Nobody knows what tomorrow brings. James 4:14 says, “Why,
you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You
are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” I can
tell you that first hand. I went from 2 games from Omaha to having a
doctor tell me you have no hope to live. I beg to differ on that opinion
because as long as I have a breath I have a hope and It’s not the
treasures I can store up but the treasures I can give others. Dave
Dravecky, a major league pitcher who lost his throwing arm to cancer put
it best when he said, “The worth of a man is not what you do for
yourself but what you do for others.”
The Pirate family has blessed my family so much through your giving
and support over the past year. Lynn and I can’t thank you enough for
what you have done. I just hope that you will be thanked with a trip to
Omaha and a brand new stadium that you all deserve. A first-class
facility for first class fans.
I love you and it’s an honor to be part of your family and your Hall
of Fame. The late Jimmy Valvano said, “Don’t ever give up.” Sorry, I
forgot he was the N.C. State coach.
May God bless you all.
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02/23/2007 11:21 AM |