KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Western Michigan Athletics will induct the 2014 Hall of Fame class, Friday, Nov. 14 at the Fetzer Center and this week wmubroncos.com will take a look at each of our inductees: Jason Babin, football (2000-03), Larissa Chinwah-Mavros, women's tennis (1999-2002), Tracy Daniel, softball/volleyball (1983-86), Jamal Mayers, ice hockey (1993-96), Leon McGee, men's basketball (1991-93) and Dick Pond, men's track & field (1960-61).
Leon McGee
For 2014 Western Michigan Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Leon McGee school pride is taken to another level. From his playing days on the Bronco men's basketball team to working in the human resources department at WMU, it doesn't take long for anybody to find out McGee bleeds Brown & Gold.
“There's something to be said about working at your alma mater,” said McGee. “I can truly say every day is a great day to be a Bronco.”
A Battle Creek, Mich., native, Western Michigan was a home away from home and provided McGee with a safe environment to develop as a young man. McGee developed quickly on the basketball court as he was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection, earning first team in 1993 and second team honors in 1992 and 1994. He is also one of 39 Broncos to score 1,000 or more points in a career and is a member of the 1991-92 NIT team.
“I've been blessed to have the kind of support that I was given,” said McGee. “I have to give thanks to everybody for the support, care, advice and platform to showcase my talents and abilities.”
After his success at WMU, McGee had a tryout with the New Jersey Nets but twisted his knee during the workout and ended his pursuit towards the NBA. He then would spend two seasons in the English basketball league as part of the Newcastle Eagles. He was named to the 1998 Northern All-Star team in which he led the team in the All-Star game with 25 points. A potential six figure contract with an Israeli team was in place but due to the NBA lockout was taken away and McGee came back to finish his degree.
“To be acknowledge and given validation to the hard work, dedication, sacrifices, blood, sweat and tears that I've put in towards my craft makes everything worth it.”
McGee will be the 37th member of the men's basketball program to be inducted in the WMU Hall of Fame, the first since 2010. Looking back on his career, McGee would do it all over again to relive those unforgettable experiences.
“I realized that the negatives are so much a part of me and my career as much as the positive experiences,” said McGee. “It was a combination of everything that has brought me to where I'm at today.”
After finishing his degree, McGee worked in the human resources department at Kalamazoo College for two years prior to accepting the position of Human Resource Representative over benefits and compensations at Western Michigan University.
McGee has been married for nine years to his wife Sheris and has two sons, Tyree and Leon, and one daughter, Ayriel.
The WMU Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2014 will be honored during a ceremony on Friday, Nov. 14 at the Fetzer Center at 6 p.m., followed by an on-field acknowledgement at halftime of the WMU football game versus Eastern Michigan the following day.
