Jones County pays respects to Terrance Gore
By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
centralgasports@gmail.com
The only thing that wasn’t big, so to speak, about Terrance Gore was his body.
He was only about 5-foot-7 and maybe 160 pounds.
But the smile and the impact? Huge.
That’s what a few hundred friends, family, fans, and fellow Jones Countians celebrated on Saturday at a service in the Greyhounds’ gym in remembrance of Gore.
The 34-year-old died on Feb. 6 due to complications arising after routine surgery on his appendix.
Gore played a year of junior college baseball at Gulf Coast Community College, and that community held services for him last weekend.
Barry Veal, Gore’s baseball coach at Jones County, was there from the beginning.
“When I think of Terrance,” said Veal, now the athletics director and baseball coach at Stratford, “I see that smile that you see up there.”
Former Kansas City manager Ned Yost was among those who spoke about the Royals’ draft pick in 2011 known as T-Baby.
“He was excellent in life, he was excellent with his family, he was excellent for this community,” said Yost, recalling how likable Gore was as well as how he affected games. “The greatest thing in our profession is when you go out and do something extremely special is to get a standing ovation.
“If you all would please just join me, and stand up – …”
The crowd watching a video screen of Gore rose and gave him another standing ovation.