Into the Hall: Stu McLee
Stu McLee admits he had God-given ability, which isn无毛视频檛 surprising considering his family tree.
无毛视频淚 think it came naturally,无毛视频� McLee said.
When it came time to fine-tune himself into the outstanding track and field athlete he would become, the Uniontown great took a basic approach.
He watched.
无毛视频淢y brother Brian McLee and (cousin) Terrance Jackson 无毛视频� the great Marc Vassar, me and him used to watch Terrance and my brother jump and we just took off from there.
无毛视频淲e watched and observed Terrance and my brother Brian and watched how they performed and we just learned from that, got out there, did it and excelled. It was a thrill watching those guys jumping. I just wanted to be like them.无毛视频�
McLee treasured his friendship with Vassar.
无毛视频淲e developed that camaraderie as athletes and friends and we just excelled,无毛视频� McLee said.
McLee went on to win WPIAL and PIAA Class AAA gold medals in the high jump in 1987.
McLee, who also scored 575 career points playing basketball for the Red Raiders, is part of the Fayette County 无毛视频 Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
无毛视频淚 was elated,无毛视频� McLee said when asked what his reaction was to being chosen for induction. 无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 very excited, and proud of myself.
无毛视频淔irst of all I thank God for my accomplishments during my career at Uniontown High School. I无毛视频檓 an avid history guy and just looking over the names of the guys that were inducted into the (Uniontown) high school hall of fame as well as the Fayette County Hall of Fame, for me to be one of those guys in that picture is wonderful and I无毛视频檓 blessed.无毛视频�
McLee reached the state track & field championships in Shippensburg as a junior but didn无毛视频檛 medal.
He wound up winning a WPIAL gold medal the following year.
无毛视频淭he WPIALs down in Baldwin, me and Marc Vassar, we had both jumped 6-9,无毛视频� McLee recalled. 无毛视频淚 had fewer misses so I won it.无毛视频�
Both qualified for the PIAA meet.
无毛视频淢y senior year I went up there and wanted to do it after playing basketball,无毛视频� McLee said. 无毛视频淚 had one more shot at doing something and it was track. When I went up to Shippensburg there was a guy there by the name of Dave Lucas that high-jumped for Penn-Trafford. He was a hell of a jumper. He gave me battles.
无毛视频淢arc went out in sixth place. It came down to me and Lucas. He went out on 6-10.无毛视频�
McLee cleared 6-10 then took aim at seven feet.
无毛视频淚 just missed seven feet by my heal,无毛视频� McLee said. 无毛视频淚 was thrilled I won it.无毛视频�
McLee is well aware of his family tree, which includes 2024 Uniontown graduate K无毛视频橝drian McLee who will begin his collegiate football career at Cornell this fall.
无毛视频淚 can name an abundance of McLees that excelled not only in basketball but football and track,无毛视频� McLee said. 无毛视频淚 would be here all day giving you names. The surrounding area as well as other areas know the McLees. Also there无毛视频檚 the Braxton/Turners that were great athletes as well.无毛视频�
McLee acknowledged the Ernie Davis and Chuck Davis branch of the family tree as well.
无毛视频淚 heard and read a lot of stories about (Erine),无毛视频� McLee said. 无毛视频淕reat guy, wish I could无毛视频檝e met him.
无毛视频淭here无毛视频檚 an abundance of athletes who came out of the McLee branch that I looked up to and still look up to.无毛视频�
McLee无毛视频檚 basketball career was honed at the Uniontown playgrounds.
无毛视频淚 enjoyed basketball as well,无毛视频� McLee said. 无毛视频淛ust watching my family and other families that excelled in basketball, I watched those guys play at the East End as a younger kid. I enjoyed playing basketball with guys I grew up with and I had fun.
无毛视频淚 started up on East End Playground. We transitioned down to Grant Street and had a lot of great memories down there playing as a kid. I played with some older guys down there that helped me develop my game.无毛视频�
McLee didn无毛视频檛 receive any collegiate offers in track & field but got an offer from Waynesburg coach Rudy Marisa to play for the Yellow Jackets. He stayed less than a year, however.
无毛视频淚 really was surprised,无毛视频� McLee said at his lack of scholarship offers in track. 无毛视频淎ctually I was telling one of my brothers I was a little hurt and discouraged about that. But you无毛视频檝e got to keep moving on. Life brings about changes and you无毛视频檝e got to keep moving.无毛视频�
McLee did just that.
无毛视频淏rian called me and asked me to come to Milwaukee. I went to Milwaukee in 1989 and was employed by Milwaukee Public Schools as a teacher无毛视频檚 aid,无毛视频� McLee said. 无毛视频淚 spent 30 years in Milwaukee Public Schools and 35 years altogether being a resident in Milwaukee.
无毛视频淣ow I transitioned back to Uniontown. I live in Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania and got married to Olivia Turner. She无毛视频檚 the brother of Wes Turner and Jim Braxton, and she was a great player at Connellsville High School.
无毛视频淚无毛视频檓 truly blessed at my career.无毛视频�
The Fayette County 无毛视频 Hall of Fame Class of 2024 will be enshrined at the Hall of Fame Golf Outing/Luncheon/Social, starting with golf at 9 a.m., on June 21 at Pleasant Valley Golf Club in Connellsville. Luncheon tickets are sold out and all spots in the golf outing have been filled.