Gene Bishop was more than a benefactor to the Georgia Southern Eagles.
    He was a fan and a friend.
    Bishop died Wednesday of natural causes near his home in Dawson County, and left his mark, not only on the present and future of the athletic department, but on the university as a whole.
    Two on-campus buildings bear Bishop’s name — the Gene Bishop Field House at Paulson Stadium, constructed in 2006, and the Eugene M. Bishop Alumni Center, erected in 2009.
    He received numerous honors and awards from Georgia Southern, and served as the president of Southern Boosters for two years.
    His contributions extend beyond the playing field, as he made numerous donations to Georgia Southern’s College of Business Administration and Office of Alumni Relations.
    Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. today at Dahlonega Funeral Home.  Funeral and memorial services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Dawsonville.
    Thursday, the Georgia Southern athletics community reflected on Bishop’s relationship with the program.

    “It’s really difficult to put into words what Gene Bishop has meant, means, and will always mean to this program. All you have to do is look across campus and see all of the facilities he was responsible for. You look into the very face of this team, and you see Gene Bishop. You won’t find a more True Blue, and you won’t find anybody more loyal to the program. He’s a giant.”
    — Dr. Brooks Keel, president, Georgia Southern University

    “He didn’t go to school here, but he took great pride that his children did, and took great pride that he was able to support a university that meant a great deal to him and his family. … You can count on one hand in the time I’ve been here that he’s not been at a football game on a Saturday.”
    — Sam Baker, Georgia Southern director of athletics

    “It was so funny. At the football games, he had his chair inside of his box. That was his chair, so he could see the game without any distractions. People were all around him, but he could still see the football games.”
    — Terry Harvin, color analyst, GSU Radio Network

    “He was a loyal and passionate Georgia Southern fan. He loved to win, and he hated to lose.”
    — John Mulherin, president, GSU Athletic Foundation

    “He made an impact on this university and on this athletic department that is going to endure for decades. Very few people have had the impact, or had the kind of dedication he had to this university. He’s going to be dearly missed around here.”
    — Jeff Monken, head football coach, Georgia Southern