Temple University Athletics
Former Temple Athletic Director Gavin White, Jr. Passes Away
5.20.19 | General
PHILADELPHIA – Temple University mourns the passing of longtime administrator and former Director of Athletics Gavin White, Jr. who passed away Sunday. He was 93.
"Gavin White Jr. was totally committed to the success of our student-athletes in every way," said President Richard M. Englert. "I had the honor of working with Gavin during his Temple career and know he ran a program that had the highest integrity at every level. Much of the success that we have today in our athletics program is built on the dedication Gavin showed during his 30 years of service. We have lost one of the most revered members of the Temple family."
Mr. White served Temple University with distinction for over 30 years, starting as a football assistant coach in 1956 and later as the head men's track coach before moving to an administrative role in 1966. Inducted into the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1980, he served as an associate athletic director under the late Ernie Casale from 1966 until taking over as Director of Athletics in 1982. It was under his leadership that legendary men's basketball coach John Chaney was hired.
"After a nationwide search which turned up outstanding candidates we have found the best qualified person at Temple – a diamond in our own backyard," said the late President Peter J. Liacouras at the time of White's appointment. "Gavin White is a scholar-athlete who personifies the finest in Temple's rich sports heritage."
"He was somebody who, when I struggled mightily in my first year, would put his arms around me - game after game like I was one of his kids," recalled Chaney. "He was a great man, who loved teaching and working at Temple. He was very special and cared about the kids."
A 1952 graduate of Temple where he starred for the Owls on the gridiron for three seasons (1949, 50, 51), Mr. White immediately went into coaching, leading Simon Gratz High School to an undefeated season in 1955. He returned to his alma mater in 1956 where he served as an assistant backfield coach before taking over as the head freshman team coach in 1960. In 1966, he led the Owls' freshman team to its first undefeated season since 1935.
His coaching duties went beyond football as in 1958 he was asked to take over as the head men's track and field coach. He guided the program for nine years (1958-67) and led the Owls to a perfect 8-0 record and their first Middle Atlantic Conference Championship in 1966. It is one of only two conference championships in program history.
Not just a coach, the 1952 Temple Scholar-Athlete of the Year was also a teacher, first at Simon Gratz and later in the physical education and dance department at Temple for 30 years. One of the University's longest tenured associate professors, Mr. White served as the President of the Faculty Club and received the department's General Alumni Association Certificate of Honor at the 1977 Founder's Day Dinner and an Alumni Award in 1981.
"Gavin White's name is revered by Temple athletics," said current Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "The hard work, ethics and integrity he displayed during his time as an athletics administrator remains to this day. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten."
Mr. White retired from Temple University in 1986, but remained active serving on the athletic department's Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee until 2012.
Mr. White's son, Gavin III, continued the family coaching legacy, serving 37 years as Temple's men's crew coach before retiring in 2016.
"He was my hero, and having him to observe and seeing how much he loved his kids was special," White III said. "He was at his best when he was teaching, and of course, coaching is teaching. My dad is the biggest reason I coached."
Mr. White is survived by his children Gavin R. White (Jane), David R. White (Anita), and Barbara A. Kelleher (James), his grandchildren David G. White (Jackie), Leah Zych, Meghann Hernandez (Michael), Elizabeth J. White, Patrick A. White (Stefanie), James White, Courtney L. Marchesano (Dominic), Gavin M. White (Maria), and Caitlin Kelleher and his great grandchildren Landon White, Alexander Hernandez, Ella Hernandez, Parker White, Avery Hernandez, Taylor White, and Connor White.
There will be viewings on Thursday, May 23 from 6-8 p.m. and on Friday, May 24 from 10-11 a.m. with the service to follow at 11. Both are at the John Givnish Funeral Home at 10975 Academy Rd., Philadelphia. Internment will be at Sunset Memorial Park at 333 County Line Road in Feasterville-Trevose, PA 19053.
"Gavin White Jr. was totally committed to the success of our student-athletes in every way," said President Richard M. Englert. "I had the honor of working with Gavin during his Temple career and know he ran a program that had the highest integrity at every level. Much of the success that we have today in our athletics program is built on the dedication Gavin showed during his 30 years of service. We have lost one of the most revered members of the Temple family."
Mr. White served Temple University with distinction for over 30 years, starting as a football assistant coach in 1956 and later as the head men's track coach before moving to an administrative role in 1966. Inducted into the Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame in 1980, he served as an associate athletic director under the late Ernie Casale from 1966 until taking over as Director of Athletics in 1982. It was under his leadership that legendary men's basketball coach John Chaney was hired.
"After a nationwide search which turned up outstanding candidates we have found the best qualified person at Temple – a diamond in our own backyard," said the late President Peter J. Liacouras at the time of White's appointment. "Gavin White is a scholar-athlete who personifies the finest in Temple's rich sports heritage."
"He was somebody who, when I struggled mightily in my first year, would put his arms around me - game after game like I was one of his kids," recalled Chaney. "He was a great man, who loved teaching and working at Temple. He was very special and cared about the kids."
A 1952 graduate of Temple where he starred for the Owls on the gridiron for three seasons (1949, 50, 51), Mr. White immediately went into coaching, leading Simon Gratz High School to an undefeated season in 1955. He returned to his alma mater in 1956 where he served as an assistant backfield coach before taking over as the head freshman team coach in 1960. In 1966, he led the Owls' freshman team to its first undefeated season since 1935.
His coaching duties went beyond football as in 1958 he was asked to take over as the head men's track and field coach. He guided the program for nine years (1958-67) and led the Owls to a perfect 8-0 record and their first Middle Atlantic Conference Championship in 1966. It is one of only two conference championships in program history.
Not just a coach, the 1952 Temple Scholar-Athlete of the Year was also a teacher, first at Simon Gratz and later in the physical education and dance department at Temple for 30 years. One of the University's longest tenured associate professors, Mr. White served as the President of the Faculty Club and received the department's General Alumni Association Certificate of Honor at the 1977 Founder's Day Dinner and an Alumni Award in 1981.
"Gavin White's name is revered by Temple athletics," said current Director of Athletics Dr. Patrick Kraft. "The hard work, ethics and integrity he displayed during his time as an athletics administrator remains to this day. He will be deeply missed, but never forgotten."
Mr. White retired from Temple University in 1986, but remained active serving on the athletic department's Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee until 2012.
Mr. White's son, Gavin III, continued the family coaching legacy, serving 37 years as Temple's men's crew coach before retiring in 2016.
"He was my hero, and having him to observe and seeing how much he loved his kids was special," White III said. "He was at his best when he was teaching, and of course, coaching is teaching. My dad is the biggest reason I coached."
Mr. White is survived by his children Gavin R. White (Jane), David R. White (Anita), and Barbara A. Kelleher (James), his grandchildren David G. White (Jackie), Leah Zych, Meghann Hernandez (Michael), Elizabeth J. White, Patrick A. White (Stefanie), James White, Courtney L. Marchesano (Dominic), Gavin M. White (Maria), and Caitlin Kelleher and his great grandchildren Landon White, Alexander Hernandez, Ella Hernandez, Parker White, Avery Hernandez, Taylor White, and Connor White.
There will be viewings on Thursday, May 23 from 6-8 p.m. and on Friday, May 24 from 10-11 a.m. with the service to follow at 11. Both are at the John Givnish Funeral Home at 10975 Academy Rd., Philadelphia. Internment will be at Sunset Memorial Park at 333 County Line Road in Feasterville-Trevose, PA 19053.
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