Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Former educator and long-time coach William “Gus” Moorhead, 79, died Sunday, December 21, 2008, at the Christ Hospital in Cincinnati. He was born January 18, 1929 in Madison, the son of Joseph and Helen Demaree Moorhead.

Mr. Moorhead was an accomplished educator serving 40 years in the Versailles and South Ripley schools. He retired in July of 1991 after holding the title of principal for 23 years, receiving the Principal of the Year award in 1981.

His years in education followed a very successful career as a coach for the Versailles Lions and then the South Ripley Raiders. Four straight sectional wins are credited to Moorhead. He coached for 17 years for Versailles/South Ripley schools where he held the first head basketball coach position in the history of the corporation.

His love for sports carried over into a column he wrote weekly for The Versailles Republican, The Ol’ Coach Sez. This award-winning column appeared every week for 15 years with a variety of topics from his forecast for the most valuable players of teams to his opinion of basketball greats such as Hallie Bryant and Oscar Robertson. About writing for the local newspaper he told a reporter, “It was an honor, something I never expected.”

Mr. Moorhead was a member and past president of the board of directors for the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame. He served two terms on the IHSAA Board of Directors, was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 1980, the Hanover College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995, and the Ripley County Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.

He was very involved in the Versailles Baptist Church where he was a member for 57 years. He served as a deacon, trustee, and Sunday school teacher. He was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and was a Sagamore of the Wabash recipient in 1991.

He graduated from Madison High School in 1947, Hanover College in 1951, and held degrees from Indiana University. He was a former member of the Versailles Lions Club and past president of the Ripley County Retired Teachers Association.

Mr. Moorhead married his high school sweetheart, Mary Margaret Mills on August 14, 1949 and she survives. Other survivors include four children - all of whom followed in the footsteps of their father and are high school principals: a son, Rob Moorhead and wife Lisa of Aurora; three daughters: Mary Helen “Molly” Moorhead of Cincinnati; Jody Jordan and husband David of Naples, Florida; and Jane Rogers and husband, Jeff, of Versailles. They have seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two step-great grandchildren.

A celebration of Mr. Moorhead’s life will be held Saturday, December 27 at 11 a.m. at the Versailles Baptist Church with Rev. Kurt Stutler, Rev. Rick Burcham and Rev. Don Humphrey officiating. Visitation will be held Friday, December 26 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Family Life Center of the Versailles Baptist Church and from 10 a.m. until time of the celebration service on Saturday at the church.

Memorials may be given to the Versailles Baptist Church or the William H. “Gus” Moorhead Scholarship fund in care of the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles, who is in charge of the arrangements.

William H. "Gus" Moorhead