Former educator, coach, and umpire Becky Gore, a Madison County native, was honored recently at a University of Virginia softball game. Gore, who taught for 41 years and coached the Madison County High School (MCHS) softball team from its inception in 1973 until 1991, was selected to throw out the first pitch at the UVA-Virginia Tech game on April 12.
Several of Gore’s former athletes attended the game, along with members of the current MCHS varsity team and their coach, David Londrey. Madison County Public Schools Superintendent Anna Graham was also in attendance.
Gore graduated from MCHS in 1966 and earned her degree at UVA in 1972. She then returned to Madison County to teach. Under her leadership, the varsity softball team achieved a stellar win-loss record and went to the state championship game. Gore was among the first coaches in the state to bring her team into the fastpitch era. She mentored hundreds of students and was recognized with multiple “Coach of the Year” awards during her tenure.
Gore was recognized for her longtime advocacy for women’s sports. “It was an honor to throw out the first pitch at the softball clash between UVA and Virginia Tech,” she said. “My family, especially my grandchildren, were full of questions and compliments afterward. My former players said they too felt honored. That in itself meant so much to me, for it was the young women and their talents and coachable attitudes that brought women in athletics to the forefront in our rural community.”
