PITTSBURGH – Duquesne Athletics has learned of the passing of former men's basketball player Gary Major. Major, who played for the Dukes from 1967-69, was in integral part of the biggest turnaround in program history.

The 6-9 Major, who averaged over seven rebounds per game in each of his three seasons on the Bluff, saw Duquesne go a program-worst  7-15 as a sophomore, improve to 18-7 and earn an NIT bid in 1968 before posting a 21-5 record and No. 9 Associated Press ranking during his senior year. Major was a co-captain of the '69 NCAA Tournament team.

The 1968-69 Dukes were the first Duquesne team to finish nationally ranked since 1955 NIT Champions. The '69 Dukes, in the school's first NCAA Tournament appearance in 17 years, defeated Saint Joseph's in the first round to advance to the East Regional Semifinal, where five busloads of Duquesne students made the trip to watch the Dukes fall to No. 4 North Carolina, 79-78, at Maryland's Cole Field House.

The 1968-69 Dukes, under the guidance of head coach Red Manning, defeated three ranked teams during the season, including No. 8 St. John's in the East Regional consolation game.

Major, who averaged 8.8 points and 7.7 rebounds per game as a senior, was drafted by both the NBA Baltimore Bullets (ninth round) and ABA Kentucky Colonels in 1969. He signed with the Colonels, was released, and ended up playing for the Akron Goodyear Wingfoots of the National Industrial AAU Basketball League (NIBL).

He relocated to Southern California in the 1970's where he worked in the auto industry.

Major was inducted to the Duquesne Sports Hall of Fame as part of the 1968-69 team in 2016 and was also inducted to the Revere High School Hall of Fame in 2017.

A celebration of Gary's life will be held on the afternoon of June 29 at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club in San Pedro, Calif.