CLEVELAND, Miss. -- Delta State University morrns the passing of former Coach Robert G. McGraw, Jr., age 81, of Jasper, Ga., who passed away Monday, January 13, 2020 at WellStar North Fulton Hospital.
McBraw was born June 6, 1938 to Robert G. McGraw, Sr., and Irene Parker McGraw in Vardaman, Miss.. Coach McGraw is survived by his wife, Mary Neely McGraw of Jasper; son and daughter-in-law, Robert G. McGraw, III and Shari McGraw of Marietta, Georgia; son, Ronald Lee McGraw of Jasper; sister, Faye Blackston of Anderson, South Carolina; grandchildren, Matthew McGraw, Madeline McGraw, Kaitlyn MacDonald, Heather Rhen; great-grandchild, Anthony McGraw; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A Memorial Service will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, January 18, 2020 at the Chapel of Roper Funeral Home with Reverend Edgar McDaniel officiating. The family will be receiving friends at Roper Funeral Home Saturday, January 18, 2020 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
McGraw had an extensive football coaching background and served five years on Coach Billy Brewer's Ole Miss staff (1983-87), including three years as offensive coordinator and all five years working with the offensive line. Prior to Ole Miss, McGraw served two years on Brewer's Louisiana Tech staff, joining the Bulldogs after three years as an assistant at East Tennessee State.
McGraw was a 1956 graduate of Inverness (Miss.) High School and earned his B.S. and M.ED degrees from Delta State University.
Following coaching stints at Hazlehurst High and Moorhead High, he became athletics director and head football coach at Holmes Junior College where he compiled a six-year record of 30-28-1, earning Coach of the Year honors in 1963 and 1967. He then joined Horace McCool's Delta State staff in 1971, serving three years as an assistant before being elevated to the head coaching post. In his four years as head coach of the Statesmen, Delta State compiled a 21-19-1 record, including an 8-3 finish in 1974 when the team was national ranked after getting off to a 4-0 start.
