Mississippi Coaching Legend Passes Away

UNIVERSITY RELEASE

CLEVELAND, Miss. – How does one encapsulate a life, so large, that generations have felt its impact? David Meadow Ferriss (95) was born in Shaw, Mississippi on Dec. 5, 1921 and this morning , less than a mile from the field that bears his name, he passed peacefully with his family at his side.

FERRIS

From his days as a young athlete in Shaw to becoming one of Mississippi’s greatest baseball players and coaches, there was always something special about “Boo.” Out of a frame that produced a Hall of Fame career with the Boston Red Sox flowed a magnetism that brought everyone he encountered into a life-long bond with “Coach.” His ability to connect with whomever he was interacting with was his gift. As much as he loved the game, it was the relationships that came from it that mattered most.

His exploits on the baseball field are well-documented, but simply stated, the influence he had in the lives of others is his greatest legacy.

As a teammate, teacher or coach, his primary focus was always on the betterment of individuals. He built his program on the principles of hard work, faith and education. Out of that recipe came some of the state’s greatest players and coaches. It can be said that no single individual has played a larger role in the growth of baseball in Mississippi, than Coach Ferriss.

Funeral arrangements are still being made at this time. Once finalized, GoStatesmen.com will have a complete listing.