Donald L. McGee, 87 of Paris, Illinois, went to be with the Lord at 9:27 p.m. Sunday, December 29, 2024 at Providence Health Care in St. Mary Of The Woods, Indiana.
He was born March 11, 1937 in Chester, Illinois, the son of George W. and Nellie C. (Johnson) McGee. Donald was the fourth born of ten children.
He married Dorothy Louise Jackson on August 22, 1959 in Paris, Illinois, and she survives.
Other survivors include two children, Donna (Andrea) McGee-Johnson of Paris and Mike McGee of Winfield, Illinois; four brothers, Glennard (Sue) McGee of Chester, William (Connie) McGee of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Walter (Joyce) McGee of Chester, and Jerry McGee of Bolingbrook, Illinois; two sisters, Doris Williams of Chester and Mary (Louis) Slaughter of Kansas City, Missouri; three grandchildren, Michael McGee of Clearwater, Florida, Hannah McGee of Chicago, and Spencer McGee of Glen Ellyn, Illinois; and many beloved nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, George, Charles, and James McGee.
Don graduated from Chester High School in 1955, where he participated in basketball, track, vocal and instrumental music, and student government. He was the starting center on the 1955 Chester High School basketball team that, for 63 years, held the record for the most wins in a season in the school’s history.
In 1959 Don earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education with a minor in Math from Southern Illinois University. During his time there, he was on the basketball team all four years, participated in the ROTC marching band for two years, New Student Week leader for three years, and Student Union Board for two years.
He later earned a Master of Science degree in Educational Administration from Purdue University, with additional graduate work being completed at Kent State and the University of Cincinnati.
Don was a mathematics teacher for 35 years and spent 44 years as a basketball coach, 24 of those years as a head coach.
His 1981 Wheaton Central High School team’s fourth place finish in the state tournament was the highest finish in the school’s history. He was selected to coach the North team in the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association AA all-star high school basketball game, the first Black coach to be so honored.
Don’s outstanding career as both a player and a coach resulted in his being inducted into the Chester High School Hall of Fame in 2001, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006, the Thornton Township High School Hall of Fame in 2011, and the Wheaton Warrenville South High School Hall of Fame in 2019.
As a member of First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Paris, Don served as a Deacon, Elder, Chairman of the Board, Financial Secretary for ten years, and was named “Man of The Year” in 2006.
His community activities included three years on the YMCA Board, six years on the East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging (one of those years as Chairman), and had been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Paris since 1997.
Don loved to travel, having left his “footprint” in 49 of the fifty states, and having been a chaperone on several high school trips overseas and in Canada. He loved spending time with his family, camping, watching movies, and listening to music.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorials be made to First Christian Church.
SERVICE INFORMATION
Services are currently pending at Templeton Funeral Home of Paris.
Please consider sharing a memory, photo, or condolence with Don’s family at www.TempletonFuneralHome.com.