CHARLOTTE, NC – Charles Adams McCullough Sr. passed away on August 4, 2017 at age 84 from pulmonary fibrosis. He was a legend in the West Charlotte area, and with good reason. McCullough was born and raised in Charlotte, graduating from West Charlotte High School where he lettered in four sports and set the Mecklenburg County high jump record that stood for many years.
He went to North Carolina Central University where graduated in 1956. he played baseball, basketball and ran track and field. He was named to the Hall of Fame at NC Central for his performance in track and field.
After NC Central, McCullough returned to West Charlotte in 1960 where he gained great prominence as the Head Basketball Coach. In 33 seasons, his teams won 600 games and five state championships. The Lions were the State Champions in 1963, 1966, 1986, 1991 and 1992 under his direction.
Coach McCullough’s teams won 20 conference titles and reached the Western Regional 23 times, appearing in seven State Championship Games. He retired from West Charlotte after 33 seasons and took a job as the head coach at Livingston College in Salisbury, NC.
The Charlotte Observer talked to Jeff McInnis, a former player at West Charlotte who went on to a career at UNC and the NBA, who said, “Feels like losing my own dad. He really taught me to be accountable on and off the court. He was a legendary coach, but a better man."
