Gathers Awarded Degree From Loyola

At graduation ceremonies Saturday, Loyola Marymount said goodby to basketball star Hank Gathers.

In a special part of the ceremony, Gathers, who suffered cardiac arrest during a game March 4 and died shortly thereafter, was awarded a posthumous bachelor’s degree in communications.

On hand to accept the degree was Gathers’ immediate family, which is suing the school and team physicians for more than $30 million.

Gathers’ mother, Lucille, and brothers Derrick and Charles were warmly greeted as they went to the podium with Bo Kimble, Gathers’ friend and teammate, to accept the diploma from Barbara Busse, assistant dean of communications arts.

Lucille Gathers, led to the podium by her sons and Kimble, was welcomed by school President Father James Loughran and basketball Coach Paul Westhead, who was the commencement speaker. And as she was hugged by Kimble, the family received a standing ovation from the student body.