Photo by: WVU Athletic Communications
Mountaineer Basketball Integrator Ed Harvard Passes Away
February 13, 2023 11:50 AM | Men's Basketball, Blog
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Ed "Possum" Harvard, one of the integrators of West Virginia University men's basketball, has died in Dumfries, Virginia.
Harvard died last Wednesday, Feb. 8, following months of declining health, according to Mountaineer teammate Jimmy Lewis.
Harvard played on Weir High's 1963 state championship team and was a teammate of All-America guard Ron "Fritz" Williams for the Red Riders. Both joined Lewis and Norman Holmes on West Virginia's freshman team in 1964 to become the University's first Black basketball players and the first to play in the old Southern Conference.
When Bucky Waters was hired to replace coach George King prior to the 1965-66 season, he used Harvard as part of his "Gangbusters" lineup that was designed to create havoc.
The 5-foot-11, 168-pound guard appeared in 32 games over three seasons, including 13 games in 1967 when the Mountaineers won the Southern Conference and faced fifth-ranked Princeton in an NCAA Tournament game in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Harvard also played on WVU's NIT team in 1968.
Lewis, visiting Norman Holmes in the hospital before Holmes passed away last November, recalled Holmes becoming visibly upset recalling the time West Virginia lost 86-81 at Detroit early in their senior season.
Holmes believed Waters should have played Harvard more in that game to help slow down Detroit guard Ralph Brisker, who tallied 18 points and hit some key baskets down the stretch after the Mountaineers had tied the game.
"Norman became so agitated telling that story that the nurse came in to check his vitals," Lewis said. "He felt Ed could have made a difference in that game with his defense."
Harvard once recalled the struggles integrating a university that was competing in a conference full of southern schools.
"It was nice in Morgantown, but the other places we went, it was really tough," Harvard said in 2004. "We were the first Blacks to play at West Virginia University, so we got a lot of the name calling when we went to other places.
"Richmond was the worst experience," he added. "The people there were outright calling us every name in the book. We had to have a police escort because the people there were so difficult."
Harvard became a noted high school coach, teacher and referee in Vineland, New Jersey, working a total of 38 years in public school system. His last 16 years, from 1990 until 2006, were spent as Vineland's principal.
The passing of Harvard means Lewis is the only surviving member of Mountaineer basketball's five varsity integrators in 1966. Junior college player Carl Head, who joined the program that season, died in Washington, D.C., in 2018.
Williams passed away on April 4, 2004, in San Jose, California.
Harvard was preceded in death by his wife, Jacquline, and sister Renee Harvard. He is survived by one son, Ed Jr., two grandchildren, Christian and Emery, and siblings Joyce Harvard Smith, Virginia Harvard, Emmett Harvard and Noel Harvard.
A memorial service is planned for 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at Union Baptist Temple in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The funeral service will take place afterward. Mountaineer fans and teammates can send condolences to the family guest book on Legacy.com.
Harvard died last Wednesday, Feb. 8, following months of declining health, according to Mountaineer teammate Jimmy Lewis.
Harvard played on Weir High's 1963 state championship team and was a teammate of All-America guard Ron "Fritz" Williams for the Red Riders. Both joined Lewis and Norman Holmes on West Virginia's freshman team in 1964 to become the University's first Black basketball players and the first to play in the old Southern Conference.
When Bucky Waters was hired to replace coach George King prior to the 1965-66 season, he used Harvard as part of his "Gangbusters" lineup that was designed to create havoc.
The 5-foot-11, 168-pound guard appeared in 32 games over three seasons, including 13 games in 1967 when the Mountaineers won the Southern Conference and faced fifth-ranked Princeton in an NCAA Tournament game in Blacksburg, Virginia.
Harvard also played on WVU's NIT team in 1968.
Lewis, visiting Norman Holmes in the hospital before Holmes passed away last November, recalled Holmes becoming visibly upset recalling the time West Virginia lost 86-81 at Detroit early in their senior season.Holmes believed Waters should have played Harvard more in that game to help slow down Detroit guard Ralph Brisker, who tallied 18 points and hit some key baskets down the stretch after the Mountaineers had tied the game.
"Norman became so agitated telling that story that the nurse came in to check his vitals," Lewis said. "He felt Ed could have made a difference in that game with his defense."
Harvard once recalled the struggles integrating a university that was competing in a conference full of southern schools.
"It was nice in Morgantown, but the other places we went, it was really tough," Harvard said in 2004. "We were the first Blacks to play at West Virginia University, so we got a lot of the name calling when we went to other places.
"Richmond was the worst experience," he added. "The people there were outright calling us every name in the book. We had to have a police escort because the people there were so difficult."
Harvard became a noted high school coach, teacher and referee in Vineland, New Jersey, working a total of 38 years in public school system. His last 16 years, from 1990 until 2006, were spent as Vineland's principal.
The passing of Harvard means Lewis is the only surviving member of Mountaineer basketball's five varsity integrators in 1966. Junior college player Carl Head, who joined the program that season, died in Washington, D.C., in 2018.
Williams passed away on April 4, 2004, in San Jose, California.
Harvard was preceded in death by his wife, Jacquline, and sister Renee Harvard. He is survived by one son, Ed Jr., two grandchildren, Christian and Emery, and siblings Joyce Harvard Smith, Virginia Harvard, Emmett Harvard and Noel Harvard.
A memorial service is planned for 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023, at Union Baptist Temple in Bridgeton, New Jersey. The funeral service will take place afterward. Mountaineer fans and teammates can send condolences to the family guest book on Legacy.com.
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