Joseph Starrette Ferebee[1] (February 24, 1919 – March 18, 2020) was an athletic director and baseball coach at Pfeiffer University. He won 667 games with Pfeiffer University and 694 with American Legion teams.[2]
A Mocksville, North Carolina native, Ferebee graduated from and played for Mocksville High School along with his cousin Tom Ferebee, who participated in the bombing of Hiroshima.[3] Joe Ferebee was married to Melba Willis Ferebee from 1952 until her death in 2004. They had four children.[1]
Ferebee had three American legion state championships. After serving in the navy, he began his coaching career at Salisbury High School in 1947, taking the school to a 3A state title in 1955.[3][4] Ferebee was elected to eight Halls of Fame: North Carolina Hall of Fame,[5] Catawba College, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and Stanly County.
Ferebee coached at Pfeiffer University, which has named its baseball field Joe Ferebee Field, from 1958 to 1987.[6][7] He led the Falcons to 10 conference championships[5] and five NAIA District crowns. He also led Pfeiffer to the national finals one season and the 1968 Pfeiffer team was ranked number 2 in the nation.[citation needed]
Ferebee held the record for most American Legion games won from 1989 until May 30, 2015.[8] He died on March 18, 2020, at the age of 101.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Melba Willis Ferebee". Salisbury Post. March 6, 2004. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
- ^ a b London, Mike (March 19, 2020). "Sports obit: Joe Ferebee was one of the giants". Salisbury Post. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
- ^ a b "Joe Ferebee 2002". North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ Wilkerson-New, Brant (January 28, 2014). "Honoring a Legend: Pfeiffer to roll out the red carpet for Coach Ferebee". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
- ^ a b "Joe Ferebee named to state Hall of Fame". Salisbury Post. March 15, 2002. Archived from the original on January 12, 2010. Retrieved July 19, 2010.
- ^ "Coach Ferebee shares stories with Rathbun". Salisbury Post. September 11, 2013. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
- ^ "Joe Ferebee Field". Pfeiffer Falcons. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
- ^ "Legion baseball: Ferebee's record falls, Rowan loses to Cherryville". Salisbury Post. May 30, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
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