| | Basil "Rocky" Pegg HAINES CITY -- Mr. Basil "Rocky" Pegg, a basketball player and longtime Haines City High School coach who was inducted into the Florida Southern College Sports Hall of Fame, died of lung disease Friday (April 28, 2006) at home. He was 81.
Born in Wayne County, Ind., on Feb. 22, 1925, he served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, Mr. Pegg attended Earlham College in Richmond, Ind., and was a member of the basketball team.
"He had some friends stationed at the air base at Avon Park and they talked him into coming to Florida," said his wife of 55 years, Blye Pegg. "Some of them had already enrolled at Florida Southern, so he just got in the car one cold, rainy morning and started out for Florida.
"When he reached Southern's campus, it was so beautiful, warm and sunshiney, he decided to stay."
At the Lakeland college, Mr. Pegg met his future wife, who was also a student there.
He played on the basketball team at the college from 1949 to 1951. He was named most valuable player at the Dixie Conference Tournament.
"They (Florida Southern) played the University of Florida twice and that game they won. The Florida fans gave him a standing ovation because he stole the ball so many times. He was just a fast player," Blye Pegg said.
Mr. Pegg was inducted into the Florida Southern Sports Hall of Fame on April 2, 2005.
Mr. Pegg, who also received master's degree in guidance from Rollins College, had a long career as an educator.
His career at Haines City High School spanned 31 years, and for 10 years he was a math teacher and basketball coach. In 1959, he took the Hornets to the semifinals of the state basketball tournament. Mr. Pegg served the remainder of his career as a guidance counselor until his retirement in 1982.
He was described as quiet, patient and dependable. He enjoyed fishing.
In addition to his wife, Blye Pegg, Mr. Pegg is survived by his daughter, Pam Gordon, Tampa; sister, Lucille Talley, Muncie, Ind.; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Oak Ridge Funeral Home, Haines City. A reception will follow the service at the funeral home chapel.
Memorials may be made to Florida Southern Basketball Advancement Dept., 111 Lake Hollingsworth Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801, or to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.
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