The list of elite athletes graduated from Jackson-Olin High school is impressive.

Alabama great and NFL player David Palmer played for the Mustangs as did Alabama and NBA player Reggie King. Former UAB and SEC basketball coach Mike Anderson was a graduate along with 2002 Winter Olympics gold medalist Vonetta Flowers.

A poll ranking the top athletes from the school named Plamer No. 1, according to Fairfield basketball coach Maurice Ford, another Jackson-Olin graduate. No. 2 was Reginald McGary, the long-time Birmingham City Schools basketball coach.

McGary died Tuesday.

“Everybody knew him,” said Ford, who was a freshman when McGary was a senior at Jackson-Olin. “He played all sports and went to Alabama A&M for football.”

McGary was an assistant basketball coach for the Robert Scott-coached West End Lions squad that won the Class 6A 1996 championship with a 30-0 record. McGary took over the program the next season and guided the Lions to another title.

McGary coached West End to three more final four appearances before the school was closed following the 2007-2008 season.

He took over at Parker after Ford left following the 2009 season. McGary coached Parker to the 2014 Class 5A title and reached the final four two more times.

“His passion and desire to win, to be the best made him a great basketball coach,” Ford said. “His teams had such discipline and kids wanted to play for him. He always challenged players and people to be the best they could be, to be a man.”

McGary leaves behind his wife and three children.

“He was my best friend,” Ford said. “We were like brothers. When you saw us, you saw us together.

“It’s such a big loss for his family and for me.”