Ride For Life

By Nick Zulovich
The Daily Reflector
Cox Newspapers, L.P.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Keith LeClair, East Carolina University's former baseball coach who inspired many while facing the crippling effects of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), known as Lou Gehrig's disease, died Monday. He was 40.

LeClair announced on Aug. 17, 2001 that he had began suffering from ALS symptoms, and by Christmas that year doctors officially diagnosed him with the disease. LeClair's health deteriorated quickly, forcing him in June 2002 to resign his position as head baseball coach to become a special consultant to ECU's athletic department.

ECU's sparkling, on-campus baseball facility, which opened in 2005, bears his name. Baseball teams from coast to coast have played in an event in his honor, each time making special efforts before or after games to visit with survivors of LeClair's immediate family — his wife, Lynn, and children, J.D. and Audrey.

"Keith LeClair and his approach to life touched so many people in this community while providing inspiration for all who had the good fortune to meet and know him," ECU Director of Athletics Terry Holland said. "His legacy in Pirate athletics is unmatched, and his good counsel will be sorely missed in our daily lives.

"His dignified approach to whatever life brought him provides a model for every human being and particularly those of us who work with the young men and women who are this nation's future. He has enriched ECU athletics in many significant ways but most importantly by bringing Lynn, J.D. and Audrey into the Pirate family."

LeClair family friend Chuck Young said members of LeClair's family, including his parents and in-laws, were at his side when he died Monday.

"The family is holding up," said Young, who often served as LeClair's mouthpiece at public functions. "It's a very large supportive family. They all gathered around. They've got a lot ahead of them, but they're doing pretty well."

Visitation will be conducted at Wilkerson Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. Thursday. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Oakmont Baptist Church.

A graveside service will be conducted on Sunday at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens, S.C.

"They appreciate all of the love, all of the prayers, all of the support," Young said. "They also appreciate the fact that everybody's giving them a little bit of space right now. They have felt a lot of love and support from this community from the time they got here. They're certainly overwhelmed by the love this university has shown them."

Another public memorial at ECU is being planned. Exact details were not available Monday.

"Keith represents the true spirit of ECU athletics," ECU Chancellor Steve Ballard said. "He taught us all to dream big dreams and make them come true. He was a close friend and trusted adviser, and he was the best possible model of someone who puts ECU first."

LeClair led the Pirates to some glorious baseball seasons while head coach from 1998 until 2002. Under LeClair, ECU won more than 200 games, four conference championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament four times. He was inducted into the university's athletic Hall of Fame in 2002.

LeClair came to Greenville after a successful stint as head baseball coach at Western Carolina University.

He became the school's head coach at age 25, guiding the Catamounts to more than 200 victories, four conference championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances. Western Carolina retired LeClair's uniform number this past spring.

LeClair fought the effects of ALS for more than four years. According to the ALS Association's Web site, "Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy."

LeClair revealed in 2001 that more than 10 members of his family had had the disease. Family genetics is a primary transmitter of the ailment, the Web site said.

During his last days, LeClair depended on 24-hour medical care and breathed assisted by a ventilator. He used his eyes as his lone avenue of communication.

But despite his deteriorating physical condition, LeClair's ever-positive attitude never wavered.

"We can never live our lives wondering why," he said during an interview in December 2001. "We have to be grateful for what we have. It's like the 5,000 people on Sept. 11. Why them?

"We don't know the answers, and we never will until we have that day of judgment. I don't ask, 'Why me?' That's irrelevant. I'm just grateful to have today."

LeClair continues to influence the ECU baseball program.

His former uniform top is sold in many variations at the stadium souvenir stand. The team selects one player each season who most emulates the beloved former coach to wear LeClair's trademark No. 23.

"His legacy will live on forever," current ECU baseball coach Billy Godwin said Monday.