Furlow’s legacy to live on at WCU

MEDIA » John Furlow was, perhaps, the only man who could bridge the eight-decade gap of West Chester football from legendary coach W. Glenn Killinger to current head coach Bill Zwaan. In between, the Golden Rams became one of the most successful Division II programs in the count r y.

A player for Killinger, a head coach at his alma mater in the 1970s, and the most dedicated chronicler of WCU football history, Furlow passed away last Saturday at the age of 88. On Friday, hundreds of his former players, students, family and friends gathered for a late morning graveside service at Media Cemetery.

“West Chester was John’s passion,” said Dick Greenwood, the President of the Golden Rams Football Club. “He played football and went to school there, he met his wife there. His four children were raised while he was there, and his grandson played football at West Chester.”

The grandson, Bobby Hahn, played for Zwaan in the early 2000s.

“One of the happiest days of John’s life was when Bobby scored a touchdown after picking up a fumble,” Greenwood recalled.

A native of ‘Devil’s Pocket’ in South Philadelphia, Furlow graduated from Southeast Catholic High School in 1947. He came to West Chester in 1950 and during his three seasons, the Rams went 22-3-1 under Killinger. He was also captain of the swim team and met his wife Judy. The two were married for 47 years.

“Coach Furlow’s passing is very sad news,” said Ed Matejkovic, former WCU Athletic Director. “He was a great man and a life-long friend to many of us, who played for him. He taught all of us a sense of responsibility, the worth of ones character and honesty and how hard work brings success.

“My success in life was a credit to him, and I told him that often. He cared about us all.”

Furlow graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in 1955 and later received his master’s degree from WCU. He became an Associate Professor of Health and Physical Education at West Chester and began serving on the coaching staff of head football coach Jim Bonder in 1961. As an assistant under Bonder and Bob Mitten, the Rams rolled up a 73-22 record. Furlow became the head coach from 1972-78 where his teams had a record of 36-33 in seven seasons at the helm, steering the Golden Rams to three consecutive PSAC Championship games.

“He was a life-changer for me,” said former WCU player and head coach, Danny Hale. “He played a major, major role in my life. He knew how to handle all the different personalities. For some people, all he had to do was give you the ‘eye’ and you knew.

“I emulated what he did as a coach, and I always tried to treat my players the same way that he treated his. When you played for Coach Furlow, you were a part of his family forever. He was a family man right to the end.”

Furlow taught at West Chester until 1990 and was also the Golden Rams’ boxing club team from 197790, winning three national championships in the process.

He retired to Fenwick Island, Del., and authored several books, including “West Chester Football: An Ongoing Tradition in Pride” which catalogued the long, rich history of the university’s football program.

Furlow was inducted into the Sturzebecker Foundation Hall of Fame in 1999 while also holding membership in both the Killinger Foundation Hall of Fame as well as the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. He was a past president of the Delaware Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame, and was awarded the Downtown Athletic Club Champions Award for Collegiate Boxing.