Those familiar with the Weatherford College Lady Coyotes basketball team know that throughout each game the chant "Dee-Up" can be heard coming from players on the bench.

Now, that chant is taking on a new meaning as the program, and folks throughout the WC community, are pulling together to "Dee-Up" for Dee McKinley, wife of legendary Lady Coyotes coach Bob McKinley.

Dee is battling Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of plasma cells. While she is strong and fighting with all her might, it has nonetheless brought about some changes in her life.

Among those is no longer being able to occupy her regular seat at Lady Coyotes home games. And, with that, no longer being able to shout at the officials, a trait that has endeared her to many—even the officials.

"I'd always, before every game, go and say hi to her. I think I did it at first to get her on my side," Chet Martin, an official for 30 years, said with a laugh.

At a recent game against Cisco, Weatherford College alumnus Warren Creason arranged a tribute to Dee. It included those in attendance wearing a T-shirt with the slogan "Dee-Up" on it, a scrapbook for folks to sign and put their thoughts in for Dee, a group photo of those wearing the T-shirts and a special event at halftime.

A contest was held in which several contestants tried to flick a hockey puck into the circle at the center of the basketball (two were successful). The connection is one of Dee's favorite things to do during games is call an official a "hockey puck" if she disagrees with a call.

"Twinkle Toes" is another of her pet names for officials.

"She always sat in that same seat, first row, baseline, across from the visitors' bench," said Creason, who actually played for the Coyotes from 1974-76, just before the McKinleys' arrival. "Bob talks about defense wins championships, and the girls years ago adopted this motto of Dee-Up, so it just made sense to me to name this event after that."

"I can remember her yelling at officials when I played for coach," said Coyotes head coach Mark Osina, a longtime friend of the McKinleys who played for Bob at Pasadena High School and Houston Baptist University in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

But while she has always been passionate in cheering for her husband's team, Martin stressed that Dee has never crossed the line of getting personal or cursing. In fact, he and other officials have gotten quite a chuckle out of her over the years, he said.

"It never offended me," Martin said. "Sometimes, with a new official, I'd get asked, 'Man, who is that gal over there?' I just said, 'That's Bob's wife. She's just having fun.'"

Dee is known for much more than her association with the officials, however. She was a longtime elementary teacher, is a devoted wife of more than five decades, a loving mom, and an inspiration to many, even before beginning her fight with cancer.

"Bob and Dee were my Sunday school teacher at my church when I was in middle school," Athletic Administrative Assistant Keri Waller said, adding with a chuckle, "She's meek, but when she gets out in the bleachers she lets loose. The first time I saw it my jaw dropped because I had just known her as my Sunday school teacher."

"She always looked like Jackie Onassis coming to games," Osina said. "When they were younger Bob would be wearing a leather jacket. They were always a classy looking couple."

During halftime of the game, a statement from Dee was read to the crowd:

"I am so honored to be supported by my WC family at tonight's game. I wish I could be there cheering the Lady Coyotes on to a victory over Cisco. I can just imagine the Betty Jo Graber Gymnasium filled with all of the fans wearing maroon ribbons this evening, bringing an awareness to Multiple Myeloma, and one day a cure to defeat this cancer.

"There will always be a special place in my heart for the Coyotes, Coach Bob, the booster club and, on occasion, the referees."

Dr. Tod Allen Farmer, WC president, called the event "Fantastic. A great cause for a great lady.

"It speaks to our culture, how we care about our faculty, staff and community."

Bob McKinley was clearly moved by the atmosphere in the gym that night.

"Any time you have good support like that, it just makes you feel comforted," he said, choking up. "It's great to know you have this kind of love from the community."

Then, he acknowledged a sigh of relief at the Lady Coyotes winning the game, 59-52, playing the kind of defense that Dee would be proud of.

"We did guard a little," he said with a grin in typical Coach Bob fashion.

The hope is that Dee will soon be back in her place courtside cheering on her teams and keeping officials in line. In the meantime, no one else is trying to assume her role, because, well, no one else can do it like Dee.

"Dee is the best at that. No one else even comes close," Creason said. "Hopefully, she'll beat this and get back to rightful place out there."

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by Rick Mauch