Second UMass Loss in a Week

[Col Hogan]

A week after the death of former UMass Head Coach Bob Pickett on February 2nd, one of his former players who held the schools career rushing record for 10 years has passed.

Gary Pearson died Tuesday at the age of 46.

Pearson, was a two-time All-American running back (1981-82) and left Amherst as the UMass career leader in rushing yards (3,859 yards) and rushing touchdowns (35), marks that stood for 10 years.

For the past 15 years, Pearson, a Bristol, Conn. native, worked at the Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps in Springfield with children who had lived in unstable, dangerous, or abusive environments. Pearson was named child-care worker of the year on several occasions.

http://www.gazettenet.com/2010/02/12/ex ... ck-dies-46