Ernie McCray reflects on his legacy

If you Google “Ernest McCray,” it’ll tell you first that he’s a basketball player. Undoubtedly he is another legend in the lineage of University of Arizona basketball, but it’s also true he has spent the larger part of his life educating San Diego.

It’s understandable that the internet algorithms would identify him by his trailblazing collegiate career. The school record he set in 1960 for scoring the most points in a game, still stands today. That night he received his first standing ovation, but it also happened that after the game, when McCray went to a restaurant to celebrate, he wasn’t served because of his skin color.

He might have been able to make a leap to the NBA, but we’ll never know. He chose his passion and landed in San Diego where he would go on to open the John Muir Alternative School.

His knack for being “first” followed him as he went even further west. Back at the University of Arizona he was the first Black basketball player to earn a degree. Among San Diego city schools, he was the first male to take parental leave. 

At 88 years old, McCray has left his formal role as an educator behind, but don’t think that means he’s left himself behind. From his column in the OB Rag to the live readings of his poetry at local libraries, he’s still educating us.

Learn more about McCray’s journey, and how he’s looking at the future in our top story today.

One more thing: Happy Earth Day! Spend some time outside today, and maybe touch some sand. Let’s hope our day of reflection on how awe-inspiring this planet is, wraps up with a signature San Diego sunset.

Thoughts? Opinions? Share them with us at news@timesofsandiego.com.