Ralph McClure -- The Tiger's Den

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Date Posted: 13:31:54 05/31/02 Fri
Author: Jon Ralston
Subject: Ralph McClure

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Originally Published Friday, May 31, 2002
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Pacific's 'Super Fan' Ralph McClure dies

By Scott Linesburgh

Record Staff Writer

For more than 40 years, everyone knew where to find Ralph McClure during a University of the Pacific men's basketball game.

He sat front row, center court. Whether it was at the Stockton Civic Auditorium or the Spanos Center, McClure was always encouraging the home team and was never bashful about bantering with officials and opposing coaches. He was Pacific's Super Fan.

Ralph McClure, the local businessman who became Pacific's most avid supporter, died on Wednesday morning after an extended illness. He was 78.

''In our lifetime when anybody thinks of University of the Pacific sports, they will think of Ralph McClure,'' said Rick Paulsen, a former Pacific basketball player and longtime booster. ''As a player, Ralph always made you feel like his son. He was a Tiger for life.''

McClure was the longtime president and co-owner of the Union Planing Mill in Stockton. He was a past president of the Stockton Golf and Country Club, an honorary member of the Building Exchange of Stockton and a member of the board of directors of Union Deposit Bank. He did not attend Pacific, but supported the school financially and emotionally through the years. He is a member of the Pacific Athletic Hall of Fame.

Ralph McClure's son Dick, who played football at Pacific, said his father felt a special kinship with the school when he started rooting for the Tigers.

''I think he always wanted to see an underdog do well,'' Dick McClure said. ''In the (Pacific Coast Athletic Association) at that time Pacific was the only private college going against the bigger public schools, and it's the only private school in the Big West (Conference) now. It was a wonderful day when we beat the big public schools.

''The other thing he really loved about Pacific is how it doesn't pursue sport for sport sake, but sport for the student athlete's sake and the education that goes with it. It was very important to him.''

Bob Thomason knew Ralph McClure both as a player and coach. Going into his 15th year as Pacific's basketball coach, Thomason played for the Tigers from 1968-71.

''His heart was so big and he wanted to do so much for the kids,'' Thomason said. ''He was always the first one to shake your hand after a win and put his arm around your shoulder after a loss.''

And he would let officials know what he thought. Earlier this year, John Dangleis, the Big West's supervisor of officials, spoke fondly of McClure.

''Ralph was famous,'' Dangleis said. ''(The officials) all seemed to know who he was. Ralph made sure you knew he was there. He was a real booster.''

Because of illness. McClure made it to only a few games this past season. Pacific booster Max Paulsen, who sat two seats away from McClure for 20 years at the Spanos Center, said the officials would often ask where Ralph was. Dick McClure said one official, Billy Gianquinto, asked for his father's phone number so he could call at halftime of a game.

''I told him Billy was going to call,'' Dick McClure said. ''When Billy did call, my father yelled, 'Darn it Billy, you were out of position on that call and I could see it from here.' Billy laughed and it made his night.''

For all those years, everyone in the arena knew where Ralph McClure was. Thomason said home games will not be the same now.

''His memory will always be strong in me and strong in those who have attended Pacific,'' Thomason said. ''I'll always look at that chair and think of Ralph.''

Ralph McClure is survived his wife Lucille, son Dick, daughters Francine McClure of San Diego and Ana McClure Hernandez of Los Angeles and grandchildren Jane Hernandez and Beth Hernandez. There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Stockton Golf and Country Club.

In leiu of flowers, the family suggests donations in his memory to the Pacific Men's Basketball Ralph McClure Memorial Fund, c/o University of the Pacific Athletics, 2601 Pacific Ave., Stockton CA 95211; the Builder's Exchange of Stockton Scholarship Fund, 7500 N. West Lane, Stockton CA, 95210; or the Woodwork Institute of California Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 980247, West Sacramento, CA 95798.

* To reach reporter Scott Linesburgh, phone 546-8281 or e-mail slinesbu@recordnet.com

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