Dawahares/KHSAA Hall of Fame

April 13, 2015 Hall of Fame Working

DAWAHARES/KHSAA HALL OF FAME
NOMINATION FORM AND INFORMATION

Information about Nominee:

Name: Joe Dan Gold

Information about Person Making the Nomination:

Name: JR VanHoose

Address:
216 4th Street
Paintsville, KY 41240

Category of Nomination:

Athlete, Contributor

Gender:

Male

Minority?

Primary KHSAA Basketball Region: 1

Secondary KHSAA Basketball Region: 0

Athlete:

High School Attended: Benton

Year of Graduation: 1959

Nominee's Accomplishments at the High School Level in Kentucky:

Declining to play in the 1961 and 62 NCAA tournaments because of problems with segregation, the 1963 team had to “sneak out of state” to play in the NCAA Tournament that year (the school's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament), defying an order from Mississippi governor Ross Barnett. Joe Dan Gold's (captain of the MSU team) pre-game handshake with Loyola star Jerry Harkness was the subject of a photograph heavily circulated across the country due to the racial upheaval at the time. The game and the handshake, was a pivotal moment in race relations in the country and in American sports, the contest even being known as the “Game of Change.” HIGH SCHOOL Benton (graduated in 1959) led Benton to a 1st Region Championship (1958) Scored 650 points as a senior (1958-59) 2nd team All-State (1959) Scored over 1,000 career points at Benton High School COLLEGE Mississippi State (1961-63) averaged 6.7 rpg as a sophomore (1960-61) averaged 13.1 ppg and 8.8 rpg as a junior (1961-62) averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.8 rpg as a senior (1962-63) 3rd team All-SEC (AP and Coaches, 1963) named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll (1963) 1st MSU player honored with an SEC academic award 2nd team Academic All-American (1963) led MSU in FG% (.504%, 1962-63) ranks 20th all-time at MSU with 600 career rebounds (in only 77 games, 7.8 rpg) Mississippi State won or shared three SEC conference titles (1961, 62 and 63). Declining to play in the 1961 and 62 NCAA tournaments because of problems with segregation, the 1963 team had to “sneak out of state” to play in the NCAA Tournament that year (the school's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament), defying an order from Mississippi governor Ross Barnett. Joe Dan Gold's (captain of the MSU team) pre-game handshake with Loyola star Jerry Harkness was the subject of a photograph heavily circulated across the country due to the racial upheaval at the time. The game and the handshake was a pivotal moment in race relations in the country and in American sports, the contest even being known as the “Game of Change.” COACH/ADMINISTRATOR Mississippi State (Assistant, 1963-65) freshman head coach (1964-65) Mississippi State (Head Coach, 1965-70) youngest head coach in college basketball (age 23) overall record of 51-74 (best finish was in first season, when they tied for 3rd in the SEC) Paducah (KY) Junior College (Head Coach, 1971-73) Region VIII Champions (1972 and 1973) Region VIII Coach of the Year (1972 and 1973) Mercer University (Head Coach, 1973-74) one season record of 16-8 Fleming County (KY) High School head basketball coach (1975-79) later worked as the school Athletic Director and Principal Williamstown (KY) superintendent Mason County (KY) superintendent Morgan County (KY) superintendent MAJOR HONORS Inducted into the Mississippi State University Athletic Hall of Fame (1996) Honored as an SEC Legend (Mississippi State representative) at the 2003 SEC Tournament Inducted into the Marshall County (KY) Athletic Foundation Hall of Fame (2009) *died on April 14, 2011