glenn
01-16-2010, 10:35 AM
It was with great shock that I learned my friend Alan Guffey, 62, died during heart surgery on Wednesday. He'd moved to Modesto, Calif., years of hard and effective work in girls' and women's basketball, to be close to his children and grandchildren. Alan spoke excitedly about the move, which makes his passing all the more tragic.
Most will remember Alan for founding the Washington Tournament Association (WTA), which raised the bar in the greater Seattle area for youth basketball tournaments. Alan placed a premium on organization, affordability and fairness, and often partnered with programs to aid their fundraising efforts. He also recently took on a major project in the Sammamish High School girls' basketball program and, before that, coached at Edmonds Community College and Blaine High School.
Alan also was part of a very small group of coaches who put the area on the national map in the world of club basketball. In that sense, he truly was a pioneer.
I will remember Alan fondly as a confidant and very early supporter of HoopGurlz, and as someone who shared our concern and commitment to "doing the right thing." We talked about that frequently. The whole national girls' basketball scene owes him a debt of gratitude.
We will keep his memory and spirit alive by renaming the Washington HS forum in his honor. Seeing his name will bring a smile to my face, but he nevertheless will be desperately missed.
Most will remember Alan for founding the Washington Tournament Association (WTA), which raised the bar in the greater Seattle area for youth basketball tournaments. Alan placed a premium on organization, affordability and fairness, and often partnered with programs to aid their fundraising efforts. He also recently took on a major project in the Sammamish High School girls' basketball program and, before that, coached at Edmonds Community College and Blaine High School.
Alan also was part of a very small group of coaches who put the area on the national map in the world of club basketball. In that sense, he truly was a pioneer.
I will remember Alan fondly as a confidant and very early supporter of HoopGurlz, and as someone who shared our concern and commitment to "doing the right thing." We talked about that frequently. The whole national girls' basketball scene owes him a debt of gratitude.
We will keep his memory and spirit alive by renaming the Washington HS forum in his honor. Seeing his name will bring a smile to my face, but he nevertheless will be desperately missed.