Hall of Fame
Demas McVay ’55 was a two-sport athlete for the Presidents in the sports of swimming and golf A four-year swimming letter winner, McVay was responsible for 105 points in dual meets during his senior year in which he earned first-place touches in 16 different races. The 105 points set a new W&J program record for individual scoring.
On Jan. 8, 1955, McVay established the school record for the 100 freestyle (56.20) versus Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He also set the 60 freestyle record (30.90) a month later against Slippery Rock. McVay and his 400 freestyle relay teammates posted an undefeated race record in 1954.
McVay had the responsibility as team captain during his junior and senior seasons bestowed upon him by W&J Athletic Hall of Fame Coach Paul Reardon. The 1953-54 squad posted a 7-2 dual-meet record and secured the college’s best season finish in program history to that point.
McVay was also a talented golfer and was selected twice as team captain for the Presidents, who played home matches at Nemacolin Country Club. McVay helped bring the varsity sport of golf back to the campus after it had experienced a hiatus from sponsorship. The 1955 squad set a school record for single-season dual match victories with seven.
McVay had a passion for writing as he worked as sports editor for the college’s newspaper, The Red & Black. He also served on then Intercollegiate Council on Government, Student Service Union, Pre-Medical Society and was a member of Phi Gamma Delta.
Two days after graduating from W&J, McVay began a career as a sales associate at the Joseph Horne Company. Six months later, he was drafted and proudly served the United States Navy monitoring the Formosa Straits on a naval destroyer. McVay later joined his wife Joan in business as a manufacturer’s representative for gifts and decorative accessories in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Since retiring in 2000, McVay has enjoyed golf, travel and church and community activities. His wife passed away in 2009 after almost 50 years of marriage. He lives in Aurora, Ohio, and remains close with daughters Susan of Potomac, Md., and Ellen of Loveland, Ohio, and their families.
