CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Former long-time member and 8-year Virginia High School League Executive Director Earl Gillespie has passed away. A VHSL release says Gillespie devoted a lifetime to the Virginia High School League as a high school athlete, educator, coach, athletics director, and a basketball and football official. Gillespie earned his masters in education at UVA after growing up in southwest Virginia where he graduated from Coeburn High School, then attending Washington & Lee undergrad after serving a tour of duty in the Air Force. He was with the VHSL for 34 years and served as its leader from 1986 to 1994.

A VHSL release notes among his accomplishments was spearheading the efforts to create a state athletic directors association; expanding the playoffs across all sports; promoting growth in girls athletic programs; instituting a catastrophic insurance plan for student athletes, area eligibility meetings for administrators, corporate sponsorship to benefit the League, and the Virginia High School Hall of Fame.
Gillespie passed away last Tuesday at the age of 95.