Former Football Standout Gary Wichard '73 Passes Away
BROOKVILLE, N.Y. (March 12, 2011) – Former C.W. Post football standout Gary Wichard '73 passed away from at his home in Westlake Village, Calif., from diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
“Our prayers go out to the Wichard family,” remarked C.W. Post head football coach and Athletic Director, Bryan Collins. “Gary was a true Pioneer. He brought our entire C. W. Post Campus as well as our Athletic Program to national prominence with his talents and determination. His legacy here at C.W. Post is well cemented. On behalf of our administration, alumni, athletic department and football program we send our deepest sympathy to the Wichard family.”
Wichard was a record-setting quarterback for the C.W. Post football team, as the two-time All-America performer set school career records for passing yardage and touchdown passes. He is ranked third all-time in career passing yards with 5,373.
The first Pioneer player to be named to both the Associated Press and Kodak All-America teams, he was invited to the Senior Bowl All-Star Game and drafted by the NFL's Baltimore Colts.
For the last 25-plus years, Wichard represented over 35 clients in the NFL, NBA, and entertainment industry through the company he has founded: Pro Tect Management. Some of the notable clients he has represented over the years include Jason Taylor, Dwight Freeney, Wally Szczerbiak, Brian Bosworth, Terrell Suggs of the Baltimore Ravens, Dwight Freeney of the Indianapolis Colts and Keith Bullock of the New York Giants, Chris Cooley of the Washington Redskins, Jimmy Clausen of the Carolina Panthers, Elvis Dumervil of the Denver Broncos, Darren Sproles of the San Diego Chargers, Antonio Cromartie of the New York Jets and C.J. Spiller of the Buffalo Bills.
Wichard's sports agent prowess led director Cameron Crowe to use the C.W. Post alumnus as an inspiration for the hit movie “Jerry Maguire,” which starred Tom Cruise.
Wichard leaves behind his wife, Maire, and two daughters, Dana and Jessica.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in Gary's name.