April 16, 2006

Alfred B. "Al" McCoy, 77, a retired administrator, died Sunday, April 16, 2006. The service will be at 2 p.m. EDT Friday at Bethel AME Church, 501 W. Orange Ave., Tallahassee FL., with military honors performed by the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard. Burial will be later at Royal Palm Cemetery in St. Petersburg. Viewing will be from 4 to 7 p.m. EDT Thursday at Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, 302 Wallis St., Tallahassee. Tillman Funeral Home in Monticello (850- 997-5553) is handling arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to M&M Educational Athletic Group Inc., 1914 Blue Sage Court, Brandon, FL 33511. Mr. McCoy attended Florida A&M University from 1947 to 1951, after graduating from Gibbs High in his native St. Petersburg in 1946. He was a star second-baseman at FAMU and made the All Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, becoming the first second-baseman to earn this distinction. In 1956, McCoy became the 10th black player to sign with the Major League Philadelphia Phillies. Three months later, his major-league stint was cut short following a knee injury. McCoy had an extensive career as an educator, teaching in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, California, Texas and Florida. He retired from education in 1994. Al McCoy had also worked as an Equal Employment Opportunity officer for the city of Tallahassee. He was director of alumni affairs for Florida A&M University, program specialist and acting director of the Florida Human Relations Commission, a legislative analyst for the Florida House of Representatives' Appropriations Committee and a teacher in various school districts around the country. Al was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and a past board member of numerous civic organizations, including the Tallahassee Urban League. Survivors include his sons, Vincent McCoy (and wife Sonja) of Brandon and Christopher Eddington of Roselle, N.J.; a daughter, Gail Eddington of Roselle; two brothers, Clarence McCoy (and wife Ruby) and Samuel McCoy, both of St. Petersburg; a sister, Juanita McCoy Oliver of St. Petersburg; six grandchildren; a great-grandchild; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and countless friends. Published in the Tallahassee Democrat on 4/19/2006

Note: Al played for the 1946 Indianapolis Clowns and 1947 New York Black Yankees.