| Joe Shay |
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Gary Stoner, current coach of Lindsay Wilson College, former coach at Central Methodist College, and Harper Creek high school, for almost 2 decades died of a heart attack this morning after returning from a run. Coach Stoner helped produce many All-State Athletes. college All-Americans, a state champion and many National Champions. He brought in Joseph F Boit from Arkansas his first year of college, Coach Stoner was the person who inspired the Shay family of runners by discovering their daughter Jodie at a small road race over 20 years ago and influenced all the Shay's including NAIA champion Casey, marathoner Ryan and the youngest Stephan at MSU.He exemplified the title" coach". He was a great man and my best friend, I will miss him very much. The funeral will be in Kalamazoo. Joe Shay |
| randy newman |
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joe, i am sorry for your loss and the sports loss. i'll keep all of you in my thoughts during my next run. randy |
| Lubbock! |
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He was great coach,He had several national champions like Josphat Boit-5000m=2002(University of Arkansas),William Ngetich-5000m=2003(University of Hawaii),Daniela georgievv-400m=2002(CMC)Evalina slatisnka-1500m&5000m=2004(CMC) Carter Snow-800m 6th 2003(CMC) and one long Jumper during his year in cenral methodist college. I will remember him in my prayers. |
| Joe Shay |
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Gary Stoner obituary http://www.lindsey.edu/index.cgi?id=10123 |
| ray |
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Very sad. He wasa great coach and a great human being. My prayers are with his friends and family as well. |
| cmurunner |
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if you could please post here or contact the cmu athletic director as soon as more info is put out about is funeral about his death, that would be great. there are a lot of us from cmu who would like to pay our respects. thanks |
| Joe Shay |
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Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home Inc (269) 343-2628 917 S Burdick St Kalamazoo, MI 49001 Visitation Wednesday April 27,2005 6:00 P.M. Funeral Thursday April 28,2005 11:00 A.M. There will be a track scholarship set up in Coach Stoner's honor, details will be known Monday. Donations to the scholarship wold be appreciated in liu of flowers |
| cmurunner |
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shay, thank you very much for the info |
| E |
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As a former HAAC runner, I often ran with the CMC guys and even made friends with a few. Coach Stoner was a good coach and I am sure he will be missed by many. The interesting thing is that he was an avid runner himself. Correct me if I am wrong, but I think he had a ridiculously long consecutive days running streak. He also did a lot to help those less fortunate so they could receive a college education. I know he had guys living in his house just so they could afford to attend school. |
| freerent |
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What? Living in his house? I hope you aren't talking about student-athletes...that is kind of against the rules. |
| HAAC_Coach |
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Gary was a good man. Please don't attempt to tarnish his integrity. I knew Gary well and will miss him. His death is a loss to the sport. That is what we should be concerned with. |
| Joe Shay |
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Coach Stoner's final obituary Please sign his guest book. Thank you Joe Shay http://www.legacy.com/kalamazoo/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=3471247 |
| Bruce Nelson |
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I was a student of his way back in Jr. high in 1975. He was our wrestling coach. What I remember about him was his devotion to us as athletes and kids. We looked up to him and he took the time to make us better people. I truly believe that it was his work that made Harper Creek a wrestling dynasty for those years because he handed off a well trained bunch of freshman to the high school program every year. And he drove a Porsche that all the kids (remember we were 14) drooled over. Very neat and likeable guy. He will be missed. |
| Me345 |
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Too bad he was replaced by an idiot. LW ad does not have standards |
| PbR |
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Sorry to here this sad news. |
| FYI |
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Please let Mr. Shay know that Central Methodist University where Coach Gary Stoner once coached has named their home cross country meet after him...The Gary Stoner Memorial Invite. Some of his former athletes that are still around had asked if the school would do that to honor him. |