Moore served community and his country well

Lake City and the surrounding area lost a key figure with the passing of Eugene T. “Gene” Moore Jr.

Moore served his community through sports and education and had spent the past few years attempting to help revive Lake City through a number of projects, including the The National Bean Market Museum of South Carolina.

We know that his friends and family will look forward to more changes at the museum and in Lake City because of that work.

“He was a very special friend and was loved by everybody who knew him,” Dr. R.L. Cockfield told the Lake City News & Post.

“I guess it was his disposition. He loved people, and they loved him. I knew him all 80 years. I loved his parents, his wife and his children and he will be missed very much.”

Moore went to Clemson University, where he had a distinguished career not only as an athlete — he played football and baseball — but he was also the college’s first mascot.

The football team at Clemson enjoyed lots of success while he was there. Moore, who played center, was there when the 1948 team was 11-0.
And he also was on the team that beat Missouri in the Gator Bowl.

From Clemson he went on to a successful career in professional baseball.

He was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and also played for the Boston Red Sox.

He served his country as a member of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Armored Division.

After getting a master’s degree in public administration from the University of South Carolina he returned home to Florence County School District 3, where he was a science teacher, administrator and Lake City High School coach.

And this was where he had a tremendous impact on Lake City.

“Coach was an inspiration to us young football players and students under him. He taught us to be disciplined and I always wanted to play hard for him,”  former student and Lynches River Fire Chief Sam Brockington told the Lake City News & Post.

In 2002, Clemson University recognized Moore by naming its school of education for him.

His contributions were many in his long career and Lake City and the people he touched are better because of it.