From the Hickory Daily Record, Jan. 27

Think of a word of praise. Any word of praise. A word that imparts admiration, appreciation or commendation. Those words apply to Kay Yow, the N.C. State University women’s basketball coach who died Jan. 24. She was 66.

Yow fought long and courageously with breast cancer. Throughout her ordeal, she was the consummate leader, an exceptional coach and a tower of strength.

She didn’t relinquish her coaching duties until she couldn’t pull herself on to the court. Even then, she acted as if her absence was temporary.

Alas, it is not. The energetic, but dignified coach lost her battle with cancer. We hope her example inspires women to have regular checkups and compels everyone who can to support cancer research.

We never heard any disparaging remarks about Yow. She embodied respect. Here are comments from two of North Carolina’s most prominent women:

“Coach Yow’s leadership, her zest for life, her ability to make us all dig deeper represented the best of North Carolina. She was much more than a basketball coach. She was a teacher, a mentor and an inspirational leader. She was a devoted Christian; the way she lived her life was an example to us all; I never heard her curse or yell. We are all blessed to have been touched by her life and she will be sadly missed.” Gov. Bev Perdue.

“As N.C. State’s coach for the past 34 years, Coach Yow accomplished as much on a basketball court as one person could. Coach Yow was a winner and a champion her entire career, winning more than 700 games, earning an Olympic Gold Medal in Seoul, capturing ACC Tournaments, taking her women to the Final Four, graduating her players, and being inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

“But Coach Yow’s legacy lives on not only on the court that bears her name at the Reynolds Coliseum, but also in the countless number of lives she touched as a mentor, teacher and friend. Her long and brave 23-year fight with cancer was an inspiration to everyone who knew her, and especially to those who were battling cancer with her. Her compassion and humility will be remembered and she will certainly be missed in basketball and in this state. Her battle with cancer and subsequent death remind all of us that in 2009, more still needs to be done to help identify and treat breast cancer.” U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan.

Yow knew she was losing her battle, but she did not lose her spirit and her ability to bring out the best in everyone around her, especially her players. That, in the end, is the mark of greatness, to make everyone around you better.

Kay Yow was that kind of person.