Gerald R. “Jerry” Kershaw died Sunday, March 3, 2024.
Jerry’s life passion was sports, especially basketball, football, and baseball. In 1961, he put his passion to use by becoming one of the voices of the Hutchinson High School Salthawks and the Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons, providing color analysis for all football and basketball games alongside Bob Watson on KWBW Radio. He had a remarkable memory for sports facts and this gained him many fans. He eventually took over the play-by-play duties. He took special pride in being the voice of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Tournament held every year in March in Hutchinson. He spent many years working with the American Legion to put the tournament together and was responsible for the committee overseeing the tournament program. He continued helping with the program via email and phone until his death. He was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Blue Dragon Hall of Fame in 2015. He was also honored on his 50th year of tournament broadcasting with the prestigious NJCAA Appreciation Award in 2014. He continued to return to Hutchinson every March to be a part of the tournament broadcasting crew after moving to Norman until 2016.
The family will be present to receive friends from 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 12, 2024, at the Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman, Oklahoma. Memorial Services will begin at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, 419 S.University Blvd. in Norman.
Memorials may be made in memory of Gerald Kershaw to the Michael Kershaw Scholarship Fund, c/o Cindy Keast, Director, Hutchinson Community College Endowment Association, [email protected] or McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church.
Online condolences may be shared at www.HavenbrookFuneralHome.com.