Wyandot Sports Hall of Fame

A 1977 graduate of Riverdale High School, Gary Egner earned four letters in track and field and three in basketball, earning all-conference in basketball while also excelling on the track. He played basketball in college and then had a brief career coaching basketball.

His success in track included the school record in the 440-yard dash, as well as all-county and all-league honors, but it was in basketball that he enjoyed his best success. He was an All-North Central Conference first-team selection, two-time team MVP and was second-team All-Ohio. The Falcons went to regionals all three years of his varsity career and were 56-16.

Egner finished as the all-time leader in points (1,053) and rebounds (744). His senior year, the forward/center scored 450 points and averaged 19.5 points per game. He remains the only 1,000-point scorer in program history and averaged 15.0 points per game in his career.

Egner then went on to play at Wittenberg College for one year before finishing his career at Findlay College, lettering for three years and finishing with more than 900 points. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Findlay in history and political science.

After college, Egner started his coaching career as an assistant for the University of Findlay basketball team from 1982-1985. During the final two years, the Oilers were 50-10. He then coached one season for Ohio University in 1986.

From there, Egner went into business and spent 34 years working in the justice and public safety market, assisting courts and prosecutor offices throughout the United States and Australia in automation projects. He also participated in national industry committees to establish technology standards still used in courts today.

He and his wife, Teresa, have been married for 35 years and live in Massillon. They have a son Joshua “Josh,” daughter-in-law Kara and grandchildren Owen and Grace; and a daughter Emily, son-in-law Blake and grandchildren Kailey and Magnolia.