WICHITA FALLS, Texas -- When Dr. Gerald Stockton retired from his post as Midwestern State's men's basketball coach following the 1993-94 season, the lead was succinct and to the point.
 
It said no other head coach in MSU history had accomplished more than Gerald Stockton.
 
Very few arguments will be made to the contrary as Midwestern State mourns the loss of its iconic coach. Dr. Gerald Stockton passed away at the age of 81 Monday morning.
 
The family will be at Lunn's Colonial Funeral Home Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. Memorial services are set for 2 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
 
Stockton guided the Indians to seven District 8 titles, one Southwest Region championship and eight NAIA National Tournament appearances including a runner-up finish in 1975 and three semifinal appearances in 1979, 1993 and in his final season as a collegiate head coach in 1994.
 
He closed out a brilliant 24-year career at Midwestern State with a career mark of 493-328 and finished his 33-year college head coaching career with an overall record of 636-414.
 
Stockton's best win-loss record ever as a head coach came during the NAIA national runner-up season of 1974-75 when his squad boasted an impressive 31-6. The 31 wins still stand as the most by a Midwestern State basketball squad matched only when the 2009-10 team claimed the same number of victories on the way to the program's first NCAA Division II Elite Eight appearance.
 
But it was Stockton who set the standard of round ball excellence winning 20-or-more games in 15 seasons including eight-straight from 1973-81. His teams constructed 70-game home court winning streak from 1973-77 on the playing surfaced later named in his honor on Nov. 22, 2002.
 
The highly decorated coach was named NAIA Division I Coach of the Year in 1994 and earned entry into the NAIA Hall of Fame upon his retired in 1995.
 
Stockton was instrumental in the success of four former MSU standouts that were named NAIA All Americans. They are Isaac Devore (1974, 1975), Henry Crawford (1978), Tony Forch (1979) and Robert Harris (1987). Harris (1986), Chuck Hall (1982, 1983), Bart Beasley (1993) and Jason Paty (1994) were also named NAIA Honorable Mention All-Americans while playing under Stockton.
 
Stockton kicked off his own head coaching career at Duncan (Okla.) High School in 1954 and continued into the college ranks with stints at Murray State (Okla.) (1955-60), Cameron (Okla.) (1960-62), Sul Ross State (1966-68) and finally at Midwestern State (1970-94). He also spent time as a graduate assistant coach at Utah under Jack Gardner in 1970 while pursuing his Doctorate.
 
At Murray State, his teams went to the National Junior College tournament twice and his 1962 Cameron bunch advanced to the tournament and came away with a fourth-place finish.
 
As a college player, Stockton started three years at Oklahoma State under legendary head coach Hank Iba and was an All-Missouri Valley selection his senior year. During the three years he played on the varsity, Stockton helped the Cowboys to three consecutive Top 10 finishes and one appearance in the Final Four and Great Eight.
 
A 1949 graduate of El Reno (Okla.) High School, Stockton had a stellar prep career, earning All-State and All-America honors as a forward his senior year leading the Indians to an undefeated season and a state title.
 
His educational background included a Bachelor of Science (1953) and Master of Science (1958) from Oklahoma State and a Doctorate (1970) from Utah.
 
Stockton also gained access into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame for his meritorious service as an athletics administrator at Midwestern State from 1970-84.
 
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, daughter Sherry Parker and husband Bob, daughter, Teresa Stockton, son Greg Stockton and wife Cathy. Also grand children, Jeff Geis, Josh Parker, Sydney Stockton, Mathew Stockton and Cole McWhorter and wife Stephanie. He is also survived by two great-grandsons Jakob and Ethan Plummer.
 
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to MSU Athletics, Hospice of Wichita Falls or the Maskat Temple Transportation Fund.
 
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Midwestern State Athletics invites all former coaches, players and fans to submit your memories of Dr. Gerald Stockton. Memorials will be posted to his page as they are received.
 
Dr. Gerald Stockton Memorial Form

 
Remembrances

I was 8 years old when I met Coach Stockton- rode my bicycle to the Dome to try to sneak in a shot or two on the court. Invited me to the next game on one condition- I take care of the basketballs. Thus starting my love affair with MSU Basketball that has not waned in 41 years- Will NEVER forget going to Kansas City to see team go all the way to the finals. My first time in a major sports arena. Will also never forget watching him walk off the court in Tulsa after another Final Four in what I knew would be his last- Thank You God I grew up so close to MSU and Thank you God for Gerald Stockton- he was my hero!

Marty McBride

Coach Stockton gave me an opportunity to play college ball based on what he knew about my father who played for him at Duncan High School and Murray State. He counseled me on multiple occasions to help me better my game but, after an off-season injury, I became even slower than I was when he brought me to MSU. I left at mid-term and my playing career was ended.

I will never forget his phone call during the Christmas break inviting me to re-join the team on a full scholarship as the athletic trainer for the Indians. We became great friends and occasional scouting mates on trips to watch future opposition. I will always remember the one time when I thought he and I would never speak to each other again. We were preparing for the game against Bethany Nazarene, a top competitor on our schedule that season and a win could give us a leg up in the Dunkel rankings (look it up) amongst District 8 NAIA foes.

He yelled at me to get a towel for the players to wipe their feet so that they could more easily navigate the synthetic surface--I yelled back that I was on my way to get it. He followed me into the training room and gave me a good verbal thrashing (which I deserved).

We won the game and afterward, I went to his office to apologize for being disrespectful. He stood and shook my hand and put his arm around me and said, "I'm sorry too, Chuck. Guess we both were a little keyed up before this big game. Thanks for all that you do to help us win."

I still have the video of The Gerald Stockton Show" which aired Sunday nights at 10:30 on KAUZ-TV that featured me as his trainer and will ALWAYS treasure his kind comments about my commitment to MSU's basketball program.

He was a great coach, mentor and friend and the closest thing to a father besides my own Dad. He will continue to be an influence on my life. Love you Coach Stockton!

Charles S. "Chuck" Smith
MSU Indians 1979-1984
1980 Quarterfinalists-NAIA National Tournament, Kansas City, Mo.

I had the privilege of playing for Coach Stockton at Duncan, Oklahoma High School on his first team to coach right out of college. Then he gave me a scholarship to Murray State Junior College in Oklahoma and where I played for him two years. He led our team, undersized and with less talent than most, to the National Tournament. No man ever worked me harder, drove me to greater heights than he did. I loved him and respected him like my own father. He never forgot his players and stayed in touch for the rest of his days. He gave my son a scholarship and an opportunity to play at MSU. Coach, the Smith family will always remember you a a great, caring man who went the extra mile for all who came in contact with him. . RIP Coach, you deserve it.

Charlie Smith

What a great man and a great coach. I am privileged to have had the chance to play for him. So many great stories and memories from my time at MSU. Coach had such a huge influence on my life and career. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Stockton family.

Bart Beasley

Coach Stockton will be missed. I will always remember Coach Stockton sitting courtside on the baseline right by the entrance to our lockerroom and how after every home game he would give us high fives as we went into the lockeroom.

Another great memory was in 2007 when we hosted the LSC tourney and won the championship, Coach Stockton came in the lockeroom and didnt say anything but gave a solid fist pump in the air and we know from that he was proud of the way we played that game, living up to the tradition of success he built at MSU.

Christopher Reay

I vividly remember when Coach Stockton had the team gathered around him at practice. The Sports Information Director came up and whispered in his ear. He was very shaken up and you knew he had just received some bad news. It turned out that his college coach and mentor Henry "Hank" Iba had just passed away. Today many former Midwestern State University players and coaches are feeling the same way he did that January in 1993. We have lost a great basketball coach and a better man. Our mentor may have passed, but the lessons he taught and memories of MSU basketball will be with us for a lifetime.
Thank you Coach Stockton.

Jeff Jenkins

I had the honor of playing for Coach Stockton from 1983-1987. Coach had a profound impact on my life . The lessons that I learned as a student athlete under his leadership have been extremely rewarding. I came to MSU as a boy but left a man because of Coach. He will live forever because of the life lessons he taught to so many young men who played for him. His impact on those young men has allowed us to be men that have in turn helped our families and others. . I am proud to have known and played for such a great man.

Robert Harris

Coach was my first college instructor in the Fall of 1973. He was an excellent teacher and he cared about his students. If the rest of the faculty had followed his lead, the amount of graduates from MSU would have tripled the total it has today. He was never replaced, and no one could have done that. I miss him today as a leader and as a friend.

Jack Martin

As the radio voice of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Bulldogs for 31-seasons (1977-2008), I had the privilege of visiting with Coach Stockton the times the Mustangs (Indians) and Bulldogs met and he was always very cooperative. After his retirement, I used to see him at Midwestern games in Wichita Falls and he was always smiling and always friendly. After his retirement in 1995 and before my retirement in 2008, while broadcasting a SWOSU at MSU game, I invited Coach Stockton to be my halftime guest on a broadcast heard in Western Oklahoma. He was so pleasant and the interview was one of the best I ever conducted (because of him). I still have the interview saved.
Our paths crossed in Duncan, Okla., back in the '50's when he was the Duncan High School coach and I was a junior high student. I think he was also the coach at Cameron Junior College in Lawton back when I attended one semester in '62 which was during the Joe Don Looney and Jim "Bad News" Barnes playing days.

CHUCK EDWARDS Ashcraft
Voice of the Southwestern Bulldogs 1977-2008
Weatherford, Okla.