黑料专区

It is with great sadness that 黑料专区 announces the death on Wednesday of Joseph S. Ferebee Sr, Pfeiffer鈥檚 beloved and highly successful baseball coach who served for over three decades. From 1956 to1987 Ferebee poured his life into the formation of students, while simultaneously setting the standard for excellence in on-the-field success to which all other Pfeiffer athletic programs would aspire.

鈥淣o one in the history of 黑料专区 athletics has influenced the lives of more young people than Coach Ferebee,” said Jack Ingram ’74, who was a Pfeiffer student-athlete during Coach Ferebee’s tenure. 鈥淗e instinctively knew how to bring out the best in his players, who respected him and rose to the challenges of the game under his guidance.鈥�

Ferebee, a Mocksville native who turned 101 in February, is the winningest baseball coach in North Carolina history. He won 677 games as Pfeiffer鈥檚 head coach and another 694 as the coach of several American Legion teams, four of which won state titles. All told, Ferebee won 1,438 games in a 41-year career that also included a coaching stint at Salisbury High School, which he led to a state championship in 1955.

While at Pfeiffer, where he also served as the athletic director, Ferebee led the Falcons to 10 conference championships and five NAIA District crowns. In 1968, Pfeiffer’s baseball team was ranked number two in the nation. Ferebee鈥檚 Pfeiffer teams produced 42 players who secured professional contracts after their college careers; two of them made it to the majors, Monty Montgomery ’69 (Kansas City Royals) and Bill Wynne ’66 (New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, and California Angels).

Tributes from Ferebee鈥檚 players and several coaches have been pouring in.

Vic Worry 鈥�69, who played for Ferebee, was drafted by the New York Mets as a pitcher and played in the Mets鈥� farm system. 

鈥淐oach Ferebee was all business,鈥� Worry said. 鈥淗e knew everything about everything and was well-rounded. The reason why we were so good was the fact that the fundamentals of baseball were ingrained into you.鈥�

Worry added that, other than his father, nobody influenced him more than Ferebee.  

Monte Sherrill 鈥�87, Pfeiffer鈥檚 softball coach, played for Ferebee for four seasons. Although Ferebee鈥檚 baseball accomplishments stood head and shoulders above all others, Sherrill said, Ferebee 鈥渨as proud of his title as a veteran of the U.S. Navy.鈥�

鈥淗e was proud to show off the photos on his desk and that he was a cousin to Tom Ferebee, the bombardier on the Enola Gay,鈥� Sherrill said. 鈥淗is eyes always lit up with pride when it came to our country. He and his family were American heroes.鈥�

Multiple coaches have praised Ferebee for his impact on baseball and the young people who played it.

Chris Pollard, Pfeiffer鈥檚 former head baseball coach, is now the head coach at Duke. He said: 鈥淐oach Ferebee was a larger-than-life figure in our sport and I will always be grateful for the way he and his wife Melba treated a first-time head coach. Rest in peace, Coach Ferebee.鈥�

Dusty Blake ’06 MSICL, also a former head baseball coach at Pfeiffer, is now an assistant coach at Duke. He said that the Pfeiffer and baseball communities have 鈥渓ost a legend.鈥�

Ferebee 鈥渟et the bar for all collegiate coaches when it comes to making a positive and lifelong impact on student-athletes,鈥� Blake said. 鈥淚 always appreciated Coach attending our practices and games at Pfeiffer and the support he showed for our program and it meant a lot to our players.鈥�

Jordan Stampler ’17 MSL, Pfeiffer鈥檚 current head baseball coach, called Ferebee 鈥渁n incredible man.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 an honor to have known him,鈥� Stampler said. 鈥淗e will always be a monumental part of the Pfeiffer baseball program, our university, and our community.鈥�

Ferebee has been honored in numerous ways. For example, Pfeiffer has established two scholarships, one honoring him and another his wife, the late Pfeiffer alumna Melba Willis Ferebee 鈥�52. The Joseph S. Ferebee Endowed Scholarship is awarded to students who exhibit academic merit, financial need, and the qualities of a campus leader. The Melba Willis Ferebee Endowed Scholarship is awarded to undergraduate students, with first preference for a Christian education-music major and second preference for a student majoring in music or English.

Coach Ferebee became a charter member of Pfeiffer鈥檚 Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. Pfeiffer鈥檚 baseball field, now popularly known as 鈥淭he Joe,鈥� is named for him. In 2013, Pfeiffer retired Ferebee鈥檚 jersey (#23). In 2019, Pfeiffer Athletics began awarding the Joe Ferebee Legacy Award to a Pfeiffer baseball player who exhibits the values and character of Joe Ferebee.

In 2002, Ferebee was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame. He is also in several other halls of fame, including those for Catawba College (where he was a star baseball player), the American Baseball Coaches Association, Stanly County, and the North Carolina American Legion.

In 1989, Ferebee won the Raleigh Hot Stove League鈥檚 Will Wynne Award, which is given to a North Carolinian who contributes the most to baseball. He shared that honor with Walt Weiss, a UNC Chapel Hill shortstop who in 1988 became the American League鈥檚 Rookie of the Year.

In 1969 and 1971, Ferebee received the Governor’s Award for his contributions to youth baseball.

Coach Ferebee is survived by four children, all Pfeiffer alumni: Joe Ferebee, Jr. 鈥�78, Mark Ferebee 鈥�84, Rick Ferebee 鈥�81, and Jomelle Ferebee Key 鈥�76.

A small private family service is planned for Joe Ferebee. A larger memorial service will be announced at a later date.