Share your remembrances and condolences.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Remembering Ralph "Slats" McCord
Share your remembrances and condolences.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Share your remembrances and condolences.
Share your remembrances and condolences.
Slats always met everyone on campus with a warm, gentle smile. He respresented what is great about Austin College; people matter. His love for all of us was unconditional. I am comforted knowing he is in heaven and has already had a wonderful reunion with Bob Mason, Gene Day and Coach Joe. He was always there for me, and will be missed. Bill Crook '80
ReplyDeleteI loved the Man. What an example he was for me and others.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a football field in Heaven. Coach McCord has a screwdriver that he is prying rocks out of it.
I loved the way Slats walked. . .more like he was gliding. And where did he get the name "Slats"?
ReplyDeleteOne of Mother's favorite things about Daddy was his ability to dance. Watching them jitterbug was a blast. He'd do this fabulously languid shuffle to the beat, twirling and guiding her in lots of patterns. She was guided and showcased, and there wasn't a jerky move to be seen. I learned all the 60's dances from him when he'd come home from the SUB having picked up a new one that day. Twist anyone?
DeleteMartha Kate
Grandfather we love you dearly and want to thank you for the example you set, and the hundreds if not thousands of lives you have touched. I will always remember coming to Austin College and the Golf Tournaments with you, sitting on the bench at the games, hanging out in the locker rooms with the players. I know you are home, smiling down on us and watching the Roos and Rangers without pain or worries. We are all truly blessed to have been a part of your life.
ReplyDeleteCoach McCord was a great friend and coach. He was supportive of us even on the occasion when we did not deserve it. We will all miss him. He was also a terrific badminton player. As freshmen he was always eager to teach us a little humility on the badminton court. Steve Schiff '71
ReplyDeleteHeaven gained a great Kangaroo yesterday. It was a priviledge to have played for Coach McCord and he was an even better mentor and friend. Slats and Coach Mason have made a lasting impact on my life. I am lucky to have been able to play for both of them like my father did back in '63. When you think if Austin College Athletics, you think of Slats. My Dad took me to the National Championship game in 1981 where he introduced me to Slats when I was 11 years old. I will always remember his positive attitude and greatful nature. He was so happy to be a Roo!
ReplyDeleteKevin Krause - 92'
Coach McCord was so sweet and kind, truly one of the best people at A.C. Condolences to his family.
ReplyDeleteCoach McCord was a great mentor and role model. It didn't matter if you were an athlete or a gym rat; he always took the time to speak to you and see how you were doing. Those little moments may not have seemed important, but they shaped the character of many, many students. How lucky we were to have known such a great man.
ReplyDeleteUncle Ralph, you will be truly, truly missed. We can rest in the knowledge that you are finally home with family, friends and our Saviour. How so very exciting. Your sisters thought you were the very best brother ever, and you were. Mom told me so many stories about the childhood years growing up in Sugar Land. I never tired of hearing them. We recently passed by the football stadium which, of course, prompted a tidbit about when you played football for the Sugar Land Gators (what a name). She will miss you so. I'm so glad we were able to see you a couple of weekends ago. You looked good and were able to visit. It was hard leaving, though. We knew our next trip would be to say farewell. Our hearts are heavy and there will be a great void. But, we will see you again. Rest in peace, Uncle Ralph. We love you.
ReplyDeleteSlats McCord was my mentor and sometimes conscience. He helped me get the most out of my time at AC. I always loved seeing him around town, one of the best things about living in Sherman. Such a kind, honorable man. Hugs and prayers sent out to his family from me and all the Chapin family.
ReplyDeleteTerri Chapin
Class of '83
I feel so blessed to have been a part of daddy's life. There are so many special memories, getting to hang out with him in the athletic dept, dancing on his feet, running him to death on the tennis court, learning how to hit the golf ball. I'll miss my big, strong, loving daddy, I'm so glad he is no long suffering.
ReplyDeleteAs a kid, we got our haircut at the College Barber Shop. One day my Mom took me, Matt was in the chair and Coach was reading a magazine. When Mr. Newman was finished with Matt, I hopped up (thinking I was the only other man in the room needing a haircut) and headed for the chair when Mr. Newman said,"Wait a minute, there's one ahead of you." I whipped my head around and saw Coach putting down the magazine heading for the barber chair. I must have had a look of complete terror on my face for having made such a blunder (Coach didn't have much hair in the 1960's, either). Coach just smiled at me and got his haircut. He handled that the way he probably handled everything in life- with balance and even handedness. Rest in Peace, Coach McCord.
ReplyDeleteAs a freshman I watched Coach McCord out there digging rocks out of the football field then known as Lewis Calder Stadium. I wish I had a nickel …
ReplyDeleteI did not appreciate Coach McCord until Vance Gibson and I were grad-assistants. After practice the players would go to dinner and the coaches would watch film. Coach McCord would walk to a small grocery store located on what is now the practice field and bring back a stick of bologna, crackers and cheese for our film session supper. He and I were about the only ones who would eat it but nothing was ever so good at the time. Vance and I did not call them Larry or Bob or Bill or Slats. We called them what they called each other which was “Coach”. There was a lot of wisdom in that film room and some knew more about football than others but no one knew more about how to treat people than Coach McCord.
What dancing is going on in Heaven! Coach McCord was Martha Kate's Dad, my brother, Randy's AC Roo coach, and a wonderful example of Christian leadership. We celebrate his life, his love of life and our Lord, and legacy. I can see his face smile while the "Roo Kazoo Band" plays on. Twist and Shout!!!
ReplyDeleteHelen Matthews Pierce
I always called him "coach" because he used that term with the other coaches. Maybe if I had played golf or tennis I would call him Slats. Coach McCord exemplified all that is Austin College Athletics. He cared for the athletes he coached and developed a deep personal relationship with all of us. It was hard to go back to AC and not say hello to Coach McCord. We will all miss him dearly. The Austin College Community has suffered a great loss.
ReplyDeleteKeith Johnston '71
Coach McCord was my freshman basketball coach when I entered AC in the fall of 1967. He was truly a great teacher to all of us young kids. He always loved to see us have a good time at reunions over the years, and I will truly miss seeing him when I visit Austin College. I am lucky to have known and played for him.
ReplyDeleteBrad Wieland 1971
I loved "Slats". Some of my best times at Austin College were golf trips and listening to Coach on the range. Keith Strickland and I were just talking about Coach the other day. Saying we looked forward to seeing him at the golf tournament this summer. He was a great mentor and a better man.
ReplyDeleteGottta tell this one on my beloved Uncle Slats. Our house backed up to a long par 5 of Canyon Creek CC and we were always collecting balls in our backyard from errant shots. My dad loved to tell how Slats would say he couldn't believe how anyone could slice a ball that badly. At our house, the garage was in the back and you parked back there. Sure enough, one time when Slats was visiting he not only sliced his second shot -- he hit his own car parked in our driveway! Thankfully, the only thing damaged was Coach's ego.
ReplyDeleteHeaven is a better place with Coach McCord there. The words class and dignity can never be used enough when talking about Slats. My condolences to Kate and his entire family. I will never forget the kindness showed by him and Bob Mason when I first arrived on campus. Coach will be missed and thank you for making me a part of the ‘Roo family.
ReplyDeleteSincerely-Chuck Sadowski
I had the distinct honor of being a player for both Slats and his good friend, Coach Mason. There are many who can make that claim but I am, perhaps, the only player who can say each of their retirement seasons coincided with my last season as a player in their respective sports. Certainly, it must have been timing and not the exhaustion of coaching me that closed such great coaching careers in consecutive seasons :)
ReplyDeleteSlats was always unbelievably supportive of my every endeavor and always wanted to know how "it" was going, asking if he could help or offering advice. Most important, Slats had a way of encouraging without speaking and an uncanny way of teaching you the important things without you knowing it. This was one of his many gifts and something we should all remember when we think of such a great human being. Think of how our feelings change about each other when we realize the common thread of Austin College and its athletic program is shared. That is the legacy of Coach Slats McCord. Like many of you, I realized much of what he instilled in me long after I was gone from Austin College. The gifts he has given me will endure, and if I'm lucky, I will develop a sample size of his ability to give it freely, to all I encounter.