On Thursday night, Sept. 26, the Greenbrier County community lost a man that was loved by everyone and who loved everyone just the same.
Mark Gray, the Western Greenbrier football coach and color commentator for Greenbrier West football and basketball games, and wrestling coach, collapsed suddenly during his Timberwolves home football game.
Today, the staff at the West Virginia Daily News will show our respect and dedicate our whole sports page to coach Gray with a few stories and pictures, while keeping his family, friends, team, and community in our thoughts and prayers.
Some memories were shared about Mark from his friends along life’s journey (Not all these made the paper due to the space available, but we can continue to add to this digital version for as long as it takes, so please continue to submit your favorite quotes and stories of Mark):
“I worked at WGMS from August 2010 to the pandemic(spring) 2020. I met Mark Gray as a coach, a mentor and teacher. We shared a lot of laughs and man could that guy smoke meats! This is a huge loss for the west end community! Mark was loved and liked by many adults and the kids lives he touched with his knowledge of “rassling”. I used to pick on him for saying that! He also loved 80’s hair bands and new metal! Of course we talked to about that. RIP Mark! You left us too soon and we will never forget you! –Rick Honaker
“Mark Gray would always say to our wrestling team, “the definition of insanity is what, it’s doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results so stop being insane.” –Cole Vandall
“A million moments run through my mind, Mark Gray was a huge part of this community and our lives. He and Mike Goddard are part of a dying breed of leaders dedicated to leading boys to become honorable men.
I recall a September youth league football game when my son was 7, Mark was having his shoulder replaced. Mike actually told the boys at halftime that the doctors had gray’s arm off, and that Gray had told them not to put it back on if they weren’t winning, he didn’t want it. They did win, and indeed he reappeared with two arms.
One of Grays favorite quotes was “If you’re going to fight, fight like you’re the third monkey trying to get on Noah’s Ark, and brother…. It’s starting to rain!”
Anytime I was upset over anything about anyone, He’d tell me whoever I was upset with “they’re just people, too. Give em a break.”
My oldest son wrestled for him at middle school. Was NOT a wrestler, although he toughed out the season. Endured practice with athletes that became state champion level wrestlers (Chase Patterson, Malik Cox, Colton Dorsey, Colton Kessler). At the end of the season, Mark gathered them up and said they were applauding someone whose hard work and dedication impressed him. And they applauded my son. It was very moving, and honored that even though he isn’t a wrestler, his dedication to the work mattered and spoke to his character. And character was always what Mark Gray was after, the best character you had to give, that’s what he wanted. A loss beyond words. A man I’ll never forget.” –Ramona Poticher
“Mark meant so much to our family. No one completely understands the impact a coach has on his athletes and the community. He gave so much of himself to bettering others. We will hold on to the fond memories we have. So much love and prayers to his family.” — Mindy Parker
“After the Summers County game, Karsten Burns (#23) led the team in prayer. Afterward, Coach Gray said, “When you pray, are you praying to be blessed or are you praying to be a blessing?”
