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| 08-19-2002 | Previous edition: 08-16-2002 |
        
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Printer-friendly version Purdue mourns loss of McQuay
By Jason TomcsiSports Editor After battling leukemia since March of 2000, former Purdue basketball player Gary McQuay died Thursday morning at the University of Chicago Medical Center. McQuay, a 6-foot-9-inch forward, played at Purdue for three seasons from 1997 to 1999. He appeared in 94 games with seven starts and averaged 4.5 points per game and 3.5 rebounds per outing. He was 24 years old. "It's an extremely sad thing when a young man has his whole life in front of him and is cut down by a dreaded disease," said Purdue men's basketball coach Gene Keady. "He was very brave in his fight. My wife and I are saddened by the news and send out our condolences to his family and friends." McQuay came to Purdue from Gary, Ind., where he played for Gary West High School and graduated in 1996. He is ranked third on Purdue's all time list for blocks and one of the highlights of McQuay's career at Purdue came in November of 1997, at the Great Alaska Shootout Tournament. He scored 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Alabama-Birmingham. He was named player of the game. McQuay left the Boilermakers after the 1999 season and returned to Purdue for classes in the past spring semester but his condition began to deteriorate in mid-February. His brother, Greg, played at Purdue from 1999 to 2000. Greg averaged 9.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game over 67 games in his career and helped lead the team to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in 2000. He is currently playing professionally overseas. Purdue athletic director Morgan Burke was also saddened by the news of the former player's death. "We're glad the suffering has come to an end but certainly we'd hoped for a different outcome," said Burke. "He was such a talented man not only on the court but also away from it. To see him taken at such a young age is very sad. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and loved ones." Visitation for McQuay is Tuesday from noon to 8 p.m. at Serenity Gardens Funeral Home in Gary, Ind. The funeral is at 11 p.m. Wednesday at the New Hope Cemetery in Gary, Ind. The funeral home number to send flowers is 219-886-9144. The McQuays are asking all cards be sent to the Purdue basketball office, which will then forward them to the McQuays. The address is: Purdue Basketball Office c/o Gary McQuay Room 31 Mackey Arena West Lafayette, IN 47907 Printer-friendly version |
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