We, the descendants of Arthur Moore Sr. and Georgia Mae Moore appreciate your presence today in sharing the celebration of life for our Brother David Earl Moore “(Coach Moore).” David was born on January 28, 1955, in Akron Ohio. David received his wings on April 4, 2022.
David was a sports fanatic. He learned to play basketball from his mom, she was a phenomenal ball player in her day. He tried out for the basketball team at West Jr. High School, but he didn’t make the team because he was too short. However, he grew over the summer and made the Junior Varsity team at Central-Hower High School. He started on the varsity team for his junior and senior years as a shooting guard. David made the City Series All Summit Team, All District Team, and All State Team. He was the 3rd leading scorer in the city averaging 20.6 points per game. The team went to the State Championship two years in a row.
David received a full scholarship to Fairmont State University (Falcons) in Fairmont West Virginia. While playing for Coach Joe Retton from 1974- 1977… he was on the NAIA All American team for 4 years in a row. He was 2-time Little All American. David was the second Falcon to be selected All-American twice during his career at Fairmont State. David was selected first-team All-WVIAC in 1975, 1976 and 1977. He is Fairmont’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 22.5 career points. He averaged 22.4 points per game during the 1976 season. During David’s career at Fairmont, they won four consecutive WVIAC Tournament titles, from 1974-1977. He was selected the WVIAC Tournament’s Most Valuable Player in 1976. He was a three-time member of the WVIAC All-Tournament squad from 1975-1977. David is third on the all-time career field goals made list with 943 career field goals. He graduated from Fairmont State University with a bachelor’s degree in Education in 1977.
He attended the NBA camp for the Philadelphia 76ers and earned a try-out with them and was the last player to get cut. He went to Europe to play international professional basketball in Amsterdam.
He returned home to Akron Ohio where he received his master’s degree from the University of Akron in Sports Management.
He began his Akron Public School Teaching career and became the head basketball coach at Buchtel High School. As a young person he went to bed with his basketball tucked under his arm. People on Silver Street knew he was coming because they heard the basketball bouncing. He had big dreams…and becoming a Head Coach was one of them…it was a dream come true. Everyone was ecstatic! David was quoted as saying” Initially he had doubts for a while but if you keep clean and are God-fearing, the system works.” All of his students still call him Coach Moore.
In 2011 David Moore was inducted into the Fairmont State University Hall of Fame.
David knew people all over the world. David was the most generous person on earth. He was generous with his Time, Love and his Money. He knew everyone and he never met a stranger. David was very funny and entertaining. He loved loved loved his family and his family loved him…he will be greatly missed.
He was our Dad, Brother, Uncle, Cousin and friend…
David was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Moore Sr. and Georgia Mae Moore; his brother, Arthur Moore Jr.
He leaves to cherish his memories, his children, Diere Dejournett, David Devon Smith, Chantal Moore, Edwin, Myles, and Grant Foster; grand-children, Deasha Dejournett, Diere Dejournett Jr. and Schuyler Dejournett; his great-grandchildren, Aiden and Adonis Dejournett; siblings, Vernon (Stephanie) Lewis Moore, Linda Moore, Barabara (Joseph) Toney and Vivian Johnson; his #1 Uncle, Samuel Stephens Jr.; his sister-niece, Starr (Keith) Owens; nieces, DeBraisha (Will) Hale, Veronda (Robert) Neal and Ailonnie Moore; nephews, Joseph Toney-ll, Omar Moore, LaMar Norwood, Samuel (LaToya) Johnson-IV, Stephen (Damaris) Johnson, Vernon Moore-II and Kamerin Raine; great nephews, Brian Owens-II, Isaac Johnson, Troy Weiss, Samuel Johnson-V and Jeremiah Johnson; great nieces, Brashia Owens, Mykala Greenwood, Elisha Jones, Mys Moore, Sky Moore, Kennedy Hale, Delina Johnson, Reagan Neal and Kendall Hale; and great-great nephew, Adonis Owens.
Special friends, Flora Butler, Johnnie Mae Pettiford, Paula Dejournett, Henry Lee, Theodore (Teddy) Melton,The Duboise Family, Gary Hummel, Milous Meadows, Steve White, Gerald Owens, Marcherie Davis, Ronnie Terry and Wali Rahim; as well as a host of many many more…