Basketball WA would like to extend its deepest sympathy to Marilyn James and family on the passing of Gary.
Gary has been a long time contributor to basketball in the Country and Metropolitan areas as a player, referee, coach and score table official.
He began playing the game as a boy in Norseman, before progressing to refereeing, a capacity in which he officiated at many Country Championship tournaments, School Country Week competitions along with the Senior Domestic Competition from time to time.
Gary was involved with a number of Country basketball associations over the years in many capacities, and amongst the strings on his bow were his efforts on the score bench for the Bunbury Slammers. He started this in 1992 and continued scoring until last season where he was the only active original member of the Slammers’ score table crew.
In more recent times, Gary had become games controller for both junior and senior country week tournaments. Introducing himself as “Grumpy”, Gary was always a favourite with all the associations, he put his own touch on the Championships and let everyone know he was there.
Due to the tremendous devotion and loyalty Gary has shown over a long career and the absolute volume of work he has put in, Gary will always be a much loved member of the WA Basketball Community and will be deeply missed.