Former UNCP Staffer Passes Away

PEMBROKE – Gene Warren, who served on the athletic department staff at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, has passed away. Warren served as the University’s first-ever sports information director in the mid-1960s until his retirement in 1978.

Elwood "Gene" Warren of Wilmington died on December 1, 2009, at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro, NC. He was born in Hopewell, VA, February 11, 1929, the son of the late Raymond Boise Warren and Mae Plastscheke Warren.

Gene graduated from New Hanover High School in 1947. He served in the United States Army as a platoon sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Special Forces during the Korean War. Warren became a member of the first class of Wilmington College which would later become UNCW. Gene and his late brother, Pat, served on the first student council at UNCW and helped select the UNCW "Seahawk" name and school colors. He continued his education at UNC Chapel Hill, as UNCW was at that time a two year college. Gene earned his B.A. in English at UNC Chapel Hill.

Gene was a sportswriter for the Wilmington Star News and Greensboro Daily News in the 1950's and 1960's. He later worked at Pembroke State University as the sports information director and public information director until he retired. Gene was a long time member of the First Baptist Church in Lumberton, NC, where he served as a deacon.

Gene is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sharon Newnam Warren of Greensboro; his children, E. Gene Warren, Jr. and Stephen Reed Warren of Goldsboro; his grandchildren, Sarah, Stephen, and Emily; and his sister, Peggy Warren Longmire of Greensboro.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to Kitty Askins Hospice Center, 107 Handley Park Court, Goldsboro, NC 27534.