Earl Eugene {Gene} Corum

Earl Eugene (Gene) Corum, 88, former West Virginia University athlete, coach, professor and administrator passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 2, 2010, in Frederick, Maryland.

Gene, forever a proud Mountaineer, was born May 29, 1921 in Huntington, WV. He was an all-state guard at Huntington High School before accepting a scholarship from Coach Bill Kern to play at WVU in 1940. Following his participation in WW II, Gene was named team captain of the 1947 Mountaineers. He was drafted by the Chicago Cardinals of the NFL and the Chicago Rockets of the AFL.

Gene earned bachelor's and master's degrees from WVU in 1948. After coaching two years at Point Marion High School, Gene accepted a position as freshman coach on Art Pappy Lewis' staff at WVU in 1950. He moved up to the varsity in 1951 and became one of Lewis' top assistants where he remained until he was appointed WVU's 26th head football coach by WVU's Athletic Council in the spring of 1960. Gene served as head coach of the Mountaineers from 1960 through the 1965 seasons and earned the moniker Gentleman Gene. He had several great wins including the thrilling 63-48 win over Pitt in 1965 which is still considered the greatest offensive show in WVU history.

Notwithstanding his success as a player and coach on the field, Gene's tenure as head coach will probably be most remembered historically as being the first coach of a major sports team at WVU to integrate his sport by recruiting the first black athlete to play football. Following his coaching career, Gene became a long-time teacher and administrator at WVU. He held the positions of Professor, Acting Dean of the PE School, Acting Athletic Director, Assistant Dean and concluded his service by being named Associate Dean Emeritus.

He is a member of the West Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, WVU Athletic Department Hall of Fame, and the WVU School of Physical Education Hall of Fame and served as a member of Morgantown City Council and WVU Athletic Council. Gene Corum was a great husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, an inspiration to all of the students and student athletes who knew his grace, humility and humor, and a pioneer in the integration movement.

Gene shared a wonderful and happy life with his wife, Lucille Virginia, for 62 years.

Gene is survived by a brother Edgar Corum; two brother-in-laws, William Steinbrecher and Walter Stein and his wife Carol: two daughters, Wilma Jean Polce and her husband M. Joseph Polce and Mary Katherine Gwynne and her husband J. Robert Gwynne. He was the proud grandfather of four grandchildren, Joseph Eugene Polce and wife Chrissy, Mary Katherine Barkdoll and husband Brian, Matthew Bell, Sherie Freedman and husband Chad, four great-grandsons Jake and Josh Polce, Jamison and Ryan Barkdoll and one great granddaughter Savanah Bell Freedman.

Visitation: See above information

Services: A memorial service will be held in Morgantown in the near future.

Donations may be made in Gene's memory to the Walkersville High School Football Program in care of Joe Polce at 12 Glade Court, Walkersville MD 21793.