Hallie Essex Gregory

The Life and Tribute Hallie Essex Gregory was born December 29, 1938 in East St. Louis, Illinois to the late Mister Gregory, Selia Turner and Eudora Turner (predeceased). Doc or Coach, as he was called by family and friends, enjoyed family, people, church and eating good food. Hallie was a Christian and served God until he was called home. He graduated from West Rockford High School 1958. He served as a Mentor and Coach at the Boys Club of America in Rockford, Illinois and became the first African-American teacher at Guilford High School in Rockford, Illinois. Dr. Gregory earned his Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University. He also earned a Master’s of Science in Physical Education and Recreation from Morehead State University in Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Arts in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota. Dr. Gregory was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. since 1989. In 1997, Hallie met then married Nydia Vega Davis. He and Nydia were married on September 4, 1999. He served as Director of Athletics at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore from 1989-2000 and Delaware State University from 2000-2005. While at Maryland Eastern Shore, Dr. Gregory assisted with the addition of women’s bowling, soccer, and tennis programs at the school, while also overseeing championships in women’s outdoor track and field (1992), men’s cross country (1995), and men’s indoor track and field (1996-97). Dr. Gregory and others were very instrumental in adding women’s bowling as a championship sport in the MEAC. Furthermore, he hired Sharon Brummell to coach the Maryland Eastern Shore bowling team, which went on to win multiple MEAC and NCAA national championships. At Delaware State, Dr. Gregory implemented long-term strategies for each of the Hornets’ 17 sports, placing special emphasis on affirming the university’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for all student athletics. In 2002, he ushered in women’s soccer. In the 2001-2002 season, Delaware State won the first women’s indoor track & field championship since 1986, as well as winning MEAC regular-season divisional titles in baseball and softball. The Hornets won the MEAC regular-season divisional baseball title, while the women’s basketball team advanced to the championship game of the conference tournament in his first year. Dr. Hallie Gregory was the first African-American head coach at the United States Coast Guard Academy and a 2001 CGA Athletic Hall of Fame inductee. He served as a professor and coach at the Academy from 1971 to 1989. In 1980, Coast Guard Academy Athletic Director, Otto Graham, appointed Coach Gregory as the head track and basketball coach and the Academy’s head track coach, making him the first African American head coach in the history of the Academy. While at the Coast Guard Academy, Dr. Gregory founded the Genesis Council, which was created to join the cadets and the students of Connecticut College from a multitude of different backgrounds and walks of life together for positive discourse, intellectual stimulation, and personal growth. It provided them with opportunities to learn about and experience, first-hand, the history, cultural nuances, and issues that characterize the African-American/Black diaspora today. Dr. Gregory then turned his sights and calling to a younger group of students at Holly Grove Christian School, where he led the Eagles from (2006-2014) until his medical challenges slowed him down. Dr. Gregory was a proponent of youth advocacy and mentorship. Hallie E. Gregory will be missed dearly by: his devoted wife, Nydia Gregory. To cherish their memories of him and to celebrate his life, he leaves: 5 daughters—Holly, Paula, Billie Jean (Andrew), Naomi Vale (Kevin) and Michelle (Victor) and son Hayes; grandsons, DeShaun, Danté and Isaiah; granddaughters, Falonna, Sierra, Aleyse Hunteman (deceased) Charelle, DaLeesa and Jazmine; great-grandsons, Amariaun, AMontré, Aquan, Brody, David, Emoni, Gavin, Josué, KaMir, Victor, Nazir and Zaire; great-granddaughters, Abigail, AjChelon, Elon, Emily, Kara, Monsiea, and Monshayah, as well as many others including deceased wife, Hazel Gregory, daughter, Hope Dawn and sister, Freida (James, Sr.). Lovingly Submitted ~The Family To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Hallie Essex Gregory, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Hallie Essex Gregory

December 29, 1938 - September 17, 2017