STATESBORO, Ga. -- C.R. "Rusty" Tracy died on August 27, 2018, at Ogeechee Hospice inpatient facility in Statesboro, surrounded by family and friends.
Rusty was born in 1926 in Ismay, Mont., to A.C. Tracy and Mary Lackner Tracy.
Rusty was a cowboy, a rancher, a Marine in World War II, an Army major training cadets during Vietnam, a basketball player and a basketball coach.
He graduated from the University of Wyoming with bachelors and master’s degrees in physical education and coaching.
He enlisted in World War II at the age of 16 and served in combat in the Pacific theater (including Guam and Bougainvillea). He was awarded theater ribbons, including American, Asiatic-Pacific with three stars, Korea and Vietnam. His medals were WWII victory, United Nations, Army Good Conduct, National Defense, Purple Heart with one star, Secretary of Navy Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation with two stars, Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star.
His basketball coaching career took him from Montana to several western states. After moving to Statesboro, he served as a volunteer basketball coach at Georgia Southern University for a year. He was most honored by the Chinese Sports Federation’s request for him to coach the Chinese basketball team in training for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
He had a great sense of humor and was a steadfast friend to all. Many Georgia Southern University students and their children carry nicknames that “Coach” gave them. He had no prejudices and everyone was welcome in his home.
He leaves his wife of 50 years, Sharon (Doc) Tracy; and two daughters and a son-in-law, Debbie Tracy Merrell and Philip Merrell of Walla Walla, Washington; and Kathie Tracy of Boise, Idaho. He also leaves one grandson, Brian Merrell of Seattle, Washington.
Mass of Christian burial will be Thursday, September 6, 2018, at 4 p.m. at St. Matthews Catholic Church. Father Brett Brannen and Father Doug Clark will officiate.
The family will receive visitors at the church one hour prior to the service.
The graveside service and burial will be held in Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center at https://www.mdanderson.org; Wounded Warriors at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org; or Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, GA 30458 or https://oahospice.org/.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro I in charge of the arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, September 5, 2018
Rusty was born in 1926 in Ismay, Mont., to A.C. Tracy and Mary Lackner Tracy.
Rusty was a cowboy, a rancher, a Marine in World War II, an Army major training cadets during Vietnam, a basketball player and a basketball coach.
He graduated from the University of Wyoming with bachelors and master’s degrees in physical education and coaching.
He enlisted in World War II at the age of 16 and served in combat in the Pacific theater (including Guam and Bougainvillea). He was awarded theater ribbons, including American, Asiatic-Pacific with three stars, Korea and Vietnam. His medals were WWII victory, United Nations, Army Good Conduct, National Defense, Purple Heart with one star, Secretary of Navy Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation with two stars, Marine Corps Presidential Unit Citation and the Bronze Star.
His basketball coaching career took him from Montana to several western states. After moving to Statesboro, he served as a volunteer basketball coach at Georgia Southern University for a year. He was most honored by the Chinese Sports Federation’s request for him to coach the Chinese basketball team in training for the 1996 Summer Olympics.
He had a great sense of humor and was a steadfast friend to all. Many Georgia Southern University students and their children carry nicknames that “Coach” gave them. He had no prejudices and everyone was welcome in his home.
He leaves his wife of 50 years, Sharon (Doc) Tracy; and two daughters and a son-in-law, Debbie Tracy Merrell and Philip Merrell of Walla Walla, Washington; and Kathie Tracy of Boise, Idaho. He also leaves one grandson, Brian Merrell of Seattle, Washington.
Mass of Christian burial will be Thursday, September 6, 2018, at 4 p.m. at St. Matthews Catholic Church. Father Brett Brannen and Father Doug Clark will officiate.
The family will receive visitors at the church one hour prior to the service.
The graveside service and burial will be held in Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to MD Anderson Cancer Center at https://www.mdanderson.org; Wounded Warriors at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org; or Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, GA 30458 or https://oahospice.org/.
Friends may sign the online register book at www.joineranderson.com.
Joiner-Anderson Funeral Home & Crematory of Statesboro I in charge of the arrangements.
Statesboro Herald, September 5, 2018
Sign the Legacy online guestbook at www.statesboroherald.com.