Eastern Michigan Athletics
Memorial Services Set For EMU Athletic Greats
3/25/2009 4:14:31 PM | Men's Basketball, Football, E-Gridiron Group
Dave Pureifory and Kennedy McIntosh to be remembered at separate events
YPSILANTI, Mich. — Former Eastern Michigan University greats Dave Pureifory (PURE-uh-foy) and Kennedy McIntosh will be honored at local memorial services over the next two weeks.
Pureifory, one of the all-time greats in Eastern Michigan University football history, died Wednesday, March 4. The 59-year-old had been battling a long-time illness. A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, March 28, at noon at Brown Chapel, 1043 W. Michigan Avenue, in Ypsilanti. A reception immediately following the memorial service will be held in the atrium of the EMU Convocation Center.
McIntosh, the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in Eastern Michigan University men's basketball history, passed away after suffering a stroke, March 6, at UCLA-Santa Monica Hospital in Los Angeles, Calif. The memorial service for McIntosh is planned for Saturday, April 4 at 11 a.m., at the EagleCrest Conference Center in Ypsilanti. A reception will follow immediately at that facility.
McIntosh helped rule the front court for EMU from 1967-71. In his four years he set standards in scoring and rebounding that have stood the test of time for 38 years. McIntosh holds the EMU career marks for points scored (2,219) and rebounds (1,426) and is the only EMU player to grab more than 1,000 rebounds. He is one of only two players, former standout Earl Boykins is the other one, to reach the 2,000-point plateau.
During his four years on the team, McIntosh led the team to four consecutive post-season national tournaments from 1968-71, with the best finish a national runner-up spot to Kentucky State in the 1971 NAIA Championship Game. McIntosh returned to EMU, Jan. 14, 2006, for a special ceremony at halftime of the EMU-Kent State University men's basketball game when the University retired his No. 54 jersey. McIntosh was the third EMU player to have his jersey raised to the rafters. Former standout George “Iceman” Gervin (1971-72) had his No. 24 jersey retired Jan. 26, 1986 and Grant Long (1985-88) had his No. 43 jersey retired Dec. 2, 2003.
After his collegiate career, McIntosh was selected in the first round of the 1971 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls and played for two seasons before joining the Seattle SuperSonics. He retired from the NBA in 1975 due to injuries.
Pureifory was the first player in school history to be named to three All-America teams and the only one to earn All-America honors in two seasons when he turned the feat in 1969 and 1970. Pureifory, who played for Eastern Michigan from 1968-71, led the 1970 squad in tackles-for-loss with 25 and turned in 56 for his career. For his efforts in that 1970 season, in which the EMU Hurons turned in five shutouts, Pureifory was named to All-America teams by the American Football Coaches Association, the NAIA and The Associated Press. He was elected to the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981. During his collegiate career, Pureifory also competed on the EMU men's track team as a shot putter.
In 1971, Pureifory was named second-team All-America by The Associated Press and the American Football Coaches Association. He went on to enjoy an outstanding 11-year professional football career as a member of the Green Bay Packers (1972-77) the Detroit Lions (1978-82), the Pittsburgh Steelers (1978) and the Cincinnati Bengals (1978).
After he completed his professional playing career, Pureifory was selected to the EMU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1981.
