Coach set example for many locals Community recalls lessons from Ray Meyer.(News)

0 Comments | Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL), March, 2006 | by Daday, Eileen O.

Byline: Eileen O. Daday Daily Herald Correspondent Only three months ago at an impromptu birthday party held in Mount Prospect, Coach Ray Meyer was in his glory. Surrounded by former players and coaching colleagues - nearly 40 in all - at one of his favorite haunts, The Loft, he reveled in talking about old times and even autographed a pair of basketballs to be raffled off for charity.

"He told me he doesn't do this anymore, but that he'd do it for me," said Vic Giovannini, former basketball coach in Maine Township High School District 207 and owner of The Loft. "That was the kind of guy he was; he'd do anything for charity." Gaston Freeman, former longtime Maine West High School basketball coach, concurred. He often asked Meyer to headline fundraisers...