Gene graduated from Plymouth High School in 1943, playing basketball for John Mergo and Jerry Dwyer. While serving with the Navy, he played on the 1944 North Carolina PreFlight School basketball team. From 1946-1949, Gene played basketball at Dickinson College for Richard McAndrew, Dickinson’s legendary coach from Luzerne. He began his coaching career at Carlisle High School in 1950 as assistant varsity football and track coach. From 1951-1952 and 1969-1976 Gene was Carlisle’s basketball coach with an overall record of 272-110. His teams won 7 South Penn Conference titles, 3 District III championships and had 2 undefeated seasons. He was twice voted Harrisburg Area Coach of the Year. Gene coached basketball at Bucknell University 1962-1964 and 1964-1967 was assistant football coach at U. of Pennsylvania under Bob Odell. In 1968, he was basketball coach at Hazleton High School. In 1976 he left Carlisle and moved across town to Dickinson College. He coached basketball for 13 years with a record of 143-128. His teams won championships in the MAC Southwest and Southern Conference and NCAA District II Regionals. Gene has received Carlisle High School’s Sports Service Award and Carlisle’s Finest Educator’s Award; National Basketball Coaches Association’s Division III “Coach of the Year” award. He is in the Dickinson College Sports Hall of Fame and South Central Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. Carlisle High School’s gymnasium was dedicated to him in 1994. Gene is married to Dorothy James, Meyers Class of ’44. They have three children Deborah Smith, Lisa Hall, and Dr. David Evans.