Richard Neal "Rick" Gandy

Aug. 19, 1948 — June 16, 2008Funeral services for coach Rick Gandy, 59 of Ringling will be at 10 a.m. Friday, at the 50-yard line of Blue Devil Stadium in Ringling with Rev. Mike Williams and Rev. Paul Reed officiating. Interment will follow at Ringling Memorial Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Alexander Funeral Home in Ringling. Gandy was born August 19, 1948 at Redlands, Calif., to Leroy and Oleta Pearl Johnson Gandy. Leaving an indelible mark on this world, he departed it on Monday June 16, 2008 at Healdton, from complications of injuries received in a horse riding accident on Feb. 22, 2005.Growing up in Ringling, Rick was active in athletics and the FFA. On August 31, 1968 he married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis Kay Longest. They were soon blessed with two sons, Richie and Tracy.Upon graduation from college in 1970, he began teaching and coaching in the Ringling Public School system. He held many positions in his 37 years, including high school principal and superintendent, but always found himself going back to coaching the Ringling Blue Devils football team.His career record included winning 242 football games in 26 seasons as head coach and two as head coach emeritus. He was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2004 and was the head coach in the 1984 OCA All-State Football Game. Rick lost his mother in March 1976, only months after making his first appearance in the Oklahoma Class A football championship game. He was also preceded in death by his parents-in-law, R.T. and Lorene Longest.He leaves behind a winning legacy that will be a part of Blue Devil football forever.Rick was a member of the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Ringling.Those left to cherish his legacy are his wife, Phyllis, of the home; two sons, Richie Gandy and Tracy Gandy and wife, Jana, both of Ringling; three granddaughters, Sierra, Kaylee and Rikki Kay Gandy; one grandson, Colt Gandy; his father, Leroy Gandy of Ringling; two sisters, Lana Longest of Ringling and Retha Snider and husband, Keith, of Wichita Falls, Texas; three brothers, Mike Gandy and wife, Pam, Terry Don Gandy and wife, Becky, and Jerry Gandy and wife, Lauren, all of Ringling; brother-in-law Steve Longest and wife, Alyce, of Courtney; special aunt, Carolyn Cooper of Burneyville; and numerous other relatives and friends.Pallbearers will be Peck Pemberton, Ronnie Harbour, Ronnie Austin, Tom Boyle, Gray Shivers, Barry Benson, Jimmy Snodgrass and Joe Taylor.Honorary bearers will be those who coach Rick Gandy stated as being, “All students that I had the opportunity to teach and all the athletes that I had the opportunity to coach.”Family visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, at Alexander Funeral Home in Ringling.Memorials are asked to be sent to: Rick Gandy Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o First National Bank and Trust, 125 W. Main St., Ringling, OK 73456.Condolences may be sent online at www.alexanderfuneralhome.org.