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Date 6-27-06
Contact David Tisdale 601.266.4499
WITH PHOTO
Hattiesburg—Ben Earl “Go-Go” Garry, the
most prolific running back in the history of University of Southern
Mississippi football, died Saturday, June 24. He was 50.
Services will be held at noon Saturday, July 1 at Shiloh Missionary
Baptist Church in Moss Point, with burial at Scranton Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until noon.
A native of Hazlehurst, Garry played football at Pascagoula High
School before coming to Southern Miss, where he rushed for more
than 100 yards a game 17 times during his collegiate career with
the Golden Eagles from 1975 to 1977, including a 216-yard performance
against Louisiana Tech in 1976. He finished his career at Southern
Miss with 3,595 yards rushing, the most by any Golden Eagle running
back.
In his last football campaign with the Golden Eagles in 1977, Garry
helped lead the school to upset victories over Auburn, Ole Miss
and Mississippi State. At the end of that season he was named Honorable
Mention All-American and was a First Team All-South Independent
selection; was selected to play in the Senior Bowl; and was drafted
by the National Football Leagues’ Baltimore Colts.
Garry was retired from International Paper of Moss Point.
“He always said one of the greatest things he did was play football
for USM,” said his daughter, Angela Magee of Moss Point. “He would
always share his football stories with the family. He loved it at
USM, and that’s why I went to school there, because my dad went
to school there. He will be missed.”
Garry’s coach at Southern Miss, Bobby Collins, said he was saddened
to learn of his former player’s death. “He was one of my all-time
favorites,” said Collins, who was head coach of the Golden Eagles
from 1975 to 1981. “You could all ways depend on him – he worked
really hard and was a real team player. My thoughts and prayers
are with his family.”
Collins said one of his most memorable games as a head coach included
Southern Miss’ 1977 victory at Ole Miss, when he said Garry was
instrumental in the Golden Eagles’ come-from-behind victory against
the Rebels. Down 19-0 and playing during what Collins described
as “unreal weather,” Garry keyed the rally with two touchdown runs
to help secure a 27-19 win for his team.
“He had a tremendous ballgame for us that day, in weather conditions
that were tough,” Collins said.
Southern Miss head football coach Jeff Bower, who played alongside
Garry in the 1975 season, said his late teammate was “a heck of
a player.” “He was very talented, no ego – I don’t think he realized
how good he was,” Bower said. “He was just a great guy, everybody
liked him. I never saw him mad. He was always fun to be around.”
Garry is also survived by a son, Ben Earl Garry Jr. of Houston,
Texas; two sisters, Willie Ann (Johnny) Terrell of Moss Point and
Jackie (Joe) Davison of Pascagoula; three brothers, Steve Garry
of Pascagoula, Michael Garry of Phoenix and Lonnie Garry of Anniston,
Ala.; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Click to enlarge
Former University Southern Mississippi running back Ben Earl "Go-Go" Garry, who died Saturday, June 24 at age 50, is the school's leading rusher with 3,595 yards. (Photo courtesy of Southern Miss Athletic Media Relations)
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