#BraveNation January 11

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This post will likely have a very narrow audience. Last Friday I attended the funeral for Joe Gallagher.

He was an iconic figure in not only the athletic history of UNC Pembroke but for all of #BraveNation.

UNC Pembroke was founded in 1887 exclusively to educate Native Americans from Robeson County NC. Today is stands as one of the most diverse college campuses in the country. The nickname for UNCP is the Braves. If you want to read about the history of the Braves and its fight with the NCAA to keep that name you can go to this link.

Sitting inside the beautiful Our Lady of the Sea Church in North Myrtle Beach SC at Joe’s Funeral a number of thoughts and emotions swept over me. Delivering the homily at this service was Joe’s younger brother who is a Franciscan. His given name was John Gallagher but today he is known as Brother Simeon Gallagher.

Simeon talked about Joe’s abilty to serve as a connector. It was that connection that made me realize that is really what creates a community or in this case #BraveNation.

Looking around the church I saw Howard Dean who as an assistant basketball coach recruited Joe out of the US Marines back in 1964. I then spotted three of the five siblings from the Gane Family. Sitting together were brothers Jim, Steve, and Dwight. Lacey their dad would be Joe’s Head Coach for most of his career at UNCP. The picture below from 1968 was sitting on the altar.

Yet the connection run deeper. English E. Jones the President at the time of then Pembroke State College decided to elevate college athletics and hired people like Howard Dean, Lacey Gane, Ray Pennington, and Ed Crain.

Joe’s life defines what a connector looks like. He not only had UNC Pembroke ties but to the many other places he coached or lived in. His time at the University of Richmond was evident with Bill Dooley, Jeff Butler, Greg Beckwith, and John Davis. There were condolences read from former NBA Head Coach and UNCP Assistant Coach Jim O’Brien (1975-76). There were people tied to UNCG, Belmont Abbey, and Methodist University all in attendance.

Yet what struck me about #BraveNation and the connections was how it was living on. New recent hires at UNC Pembroke like VC for Advancement Steve Varley and Braves Club Director Tyler Johnson attended the funeral and learned about Joe’s ability as a connector. The lesson Joe’s life taught us is how we treat people creates a sense of community and that positivity is what allowed UNC Pembroke to have #BraveNation.

This picture below is just one snapshot of what connections look like. This was a part of #BraveNation that Joe Gallagher helped connect.