Gregory Edward Dragovich

Gregory Edward Dragovich, 80, passed on to the great end zone in the sky January 2,2026, where the turf is always perfect, the referees never miss a call, and every play somehow works exactly as planned.

Greg is survived by his loving wife, Paula Jean (nee Wagoner) Dragovich, who spent many years patiently reminding him that he was no longer twenty-two and did not, in fact, need to prove it. He is also survived by his daughter, Melinda Miller (Greg Miller), his son, Matthew Dragovich (Natalie), and his four grandchildren, Nicholas, Alexander, Mallory, and Lucas, all of whom were frequently reminded that "back in my day" usually led to a story that somehow involved hard work, grit, and walking uphill both ways. He is also survived by his 4th mailbox.

Greg grew up in Landgraff, West Virginia, where he learned early on the values of discipline, determination, and tackling life head-on. He attended Norfolk-Elkhorn High School, graduating in 1963 as valedictorian and a Knight of the Golden Horseshoe. During those years, he earned the Outstanding Senior Award and played football, basketball, and track.

While at Norfolk-Elkhorn, Greg was named All-McDowell County First Team and All-State Class A First Team in football. He also earned a four-year football scholarship to West Virginia University, which he proudly accepted, likely with the confidence of someone who knew he could block just about anything life threw at him. He was also a Knight of the Golden Horseshoe.

At West Virginia University, Greg continued to excel both on the field and in the classroom. He was awarded Outstanding Senior Lineman. He graduated in 1967, proving once and for all that brains and brawn could, in fact, exist in the same person.

After college, Greg put his analytical mind to work as a systems analyst and later served as a chief information officer. He approached technology with the same seriousness he brought to football, except now the opponents were malfunctioning systems and stubborn machines. He tackled those too. During his first years at J&L Steel Company, he set his eyes upon the new girl down the hall and secretly notified a few colleagues that he was going to marry that girl. Although he was accused of being "a sausage", he did marry that girl and they stayed together for almost 55 years.

Greg will be remembered for his strong work ethic, his pride in his roots, his love for his family, his epic answers to the group game "Things", Cut-throat- Pictionary, and his quiet confidence that came from knowing he had already accomplished quite a lot before most people finished figuring things out. His hobbies included becoming a scratch golfer with the Baker group, terrorizing the courses of southwest Cleveland. He found enjoyment watching his grandchildren, Nick and Alex, creating obstacle courses, a game of penalties, and feats of strength. And, if you think that's bad Jack, he developed a specific fondness for the squirrels in his yard and cultivated a respect for how to co-exist with them.

Joined by his cousin, Jeff Maddow, Greg was inducted into the McDowell County Sports Hall of Fame in October 2023, where his family learned his stories of greatness were all true. A touching tribute was received from lifelong friend and Hall of Fame Inductee, Bill Spencer. We humbly thank the Welch Lions Club for this honor.

He is now reunited with his parents, Edward Matthew and Francis Virginia (Maddow) Dragovich, brother Timothy Gale Dragovich, Niece Janey Dragovich, old teammates, classmates, and perhaps a perfectly organized playbook, watching over his family with the same steady presence with mailboxes 1-3.

In lieu of flowers, family members suggest honoring Greg by eating a whole pan of lasagna, a bag of oranges, and never forgetting where you came from. And if possible, make the Dean's List eight times in a row, just to keep up. And by the way did you know that he was a Knight of the Golden Horsehoe? Potato Salad!