Longtime Erwin statistician Gene McClure honored with press box dedication and scholarship
Erwin basketball star Loyd King was beginning to get some college attention in the 1960s when he received a puzzling request from his math teacher, Eugene McClure.
McClure was in need of a suit jacket and other formal wear for some upcoming events, he said, and he gave King the money to go buy some. Because they were about the same size, McClure said King could pick out clothes that fit him and bring them back to the school.
King did so, but when he tried to hand them off, McClure said he didn't need them yet, and King could hold onto them a little while longer. The future ABA player wore the jacket on his college recruiting visits, kept it with him throughout his collegiate career at Virginia Tech and still has it today, nearly 60 years later.
McClure's generosity was on display throughout his 29 years as an Erwin teacher and 51 years as a Warriors statistician. Since his retirement, the community has repaid him, most recently naming the football press box and starting a college scholarship in his name for his 90th birthday last month.
"I feel very honored, of course. I didn't really expect it," McClure said. "It's very special to have the former students keep in touch."
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Nearly 200 people were in attendance for McClure's birthday party Jan. 28 at Mount Carmel Church, and about half were former students. A Jackson County native, McClure – referred to almost exclusively as "Mr. McClure" by those in attendance – taught math at Erwin from 1958-87 and volunteered far beyond that.
In addition to his 51 years as the basketball statistician, he kept the football stats for 45 seasons, was the baseball scorekeeper for 23 and the softball statistician for five. He worked into his 80s before stepping away following the 2018 season.
"Before I kept the book I did some of the individual rebounds and that type of thing," McClure said. "I just sort of fell into it, and I enjoyed doing it."
A member of the inaugural Erwin athletics Hall of Fame class in 2009 and recipient of the Mountain Amateur Athletic Club lifetime achievement award in 2018, the soft-spoken McClure is no stranger to being honored by former students and athletes, but a birthday party planning committee comprised of Erwin legends wanted to make sure his 90th was special.
They successfully petitioned Buncombe County Schools to name the Erwin football press box after him and, as a surprise, endowed a scholarship in his name to be awarded to Erwin High students attending his alma mater, Western Carolina, and studying math.
"Everybody knows him as a math person," said Keith Webb, a former student who now serves as the North Buncombe basketball statistician. "When we get the endowment set up, there will be an annual scholarship there for one or more, depending on how much money we're able to raise and put into the endowment."
Since retirement, McClure has spent his time volunteering at his church, First Baptist, while continuing to receive support from his Warriors family with things such as grocery shopping during the pandemic. They feel it's the least they can do.
"He's always there to help you, and he's not looking for something in return," Webb said. "To him, it was just his way of giving back to the community."
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Erwin scorekeeper Gene McClure honored for 90th birthday
