Captain Gregory appointed Chair of Military Sciences at Troy University

By Loretta Cozart

It’s July and I feel a sense of pressure. I’m thinking of food plots and practice shots. I’m thinking we are two weeks from August and August is thirty days from opening bow season in Kentucky. I’m thinking I’m not ready for this. I’m thinking no one cares if I’m ready and time doesn’t stop or even slow down for anyone, no matter what the circumstances. I’m thinking how do others do it? I’m thinking I’m wasting time thinking.

GARY MILLER

All my friends are feeling the same crunch. They are moving tree stands, setting out cameras, and scouting new locations. Acorns are beginning to form and we should know very soon as to which trees will hold an abundance of these delicacies. That is one thing we still can’t determine with great accuracy. Yes, we can fertilize those trees, but Mother Nature still calls the shots when it comes to temperatures and amounts of precipitation. Most trees run in two-to-three-year cycles, but again, frost and rain amounts can throw these successions into a free-for-all. So, we scout, watch, and wait right up until the very last possible day –even until opening day, because it’s better to be late and sure than early and guessing. In this case it’s better to be a day late to the party but know you’re at the right place than to be early to the neighborhood and unsure which house everyone is meeting. I wish this luxury was available for more important areas of my life. I mean don’t you wish you could look ahead at the results before taking an action? What if you could see if your investment would be profitable before you invested? What if you could know beforehand the girl you’re dating would be the girl you married? What if you could see your future before you pursued that particular degree or occupation? If we could do this, would we always choose the sure thing over the unknown? Let me ask another question. Would you choose great success with great pain or mediocrity with no pain? To be honest, I think each of us may choose differently and we would most likely be influenced by our present situation. Again, the problem is too much thinking and not enough living, and this happens when we forget to live in the present. Regret is fretting over the past. Worry is fretting over the future. Neither will get my food plot ready nor give me a steady hand with my bow. They will only make me waste more time thinking.

Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 20 years. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. gary@outdoortruths.org

Coach

From Page 1B after three seasons as the head coach at Montreat College (2018-2020). After taking over a program ranked 190th nationally out of 195 NAIA teams, Murphy elevated Montreat into the top-40, reaching No. 36 nationally in the fall 2020 season, her final season with the Cavaliers. Her performance garnered Appalachian Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors.

In the three years prior to Murphy’s arrival, Montreat managed just two total wins in conference play. In Murphy’s third and final season, the Cavaliers produced an 8-2-3 conference record (.731 win pct.).

In three seasons at Montreat, Murphy developed an honorable mention

All-American, a conference player of the year, a conference freshman of the year, and two additional all-conference honorees, while one-third of the roster earned all-academic recognition and the team produced a 3.43 cumulative GPA.

Prior to her arrival at Montreat, Murphy worked as the Elite Training Coach for North Carolina FC. Other previous coaching stops include three seasons as an assistant at Liberty University (2011-2013) and three seasons as the head coach of Praia Grande Brazil (20082010), a then-first-year team competing in the 1st Division Professional league in Sao Paulo. Murphy also possesses club coaching experience with the Triangle United Soccer Association, Central Virginia United Soccer Club, and the Olympic Development Program.

A graduate of Walter Panas High School in Cortlandt Manor, New York, Murphy was a Parade All-American and named one of the top-five defenders nationally. She played collegiately for the University of North Carolina, winning four national championships and five Atlantic Coast Conference titles during her career. While at North Caro-

Captain Jeffrey Gregory, son of Jeff and Sonya McAbee Gregory, formerly of Kings Mountain, has been appointed as the new Troy University Chair of Military Sciences, and assistant Professor of Military Sciences, 6th Brigade Command in Troy, Alabama. “Gregory will assume responsibility for over 30 Army ROTC Cadets and train them for future command and leadership roles,” his father said. “He completed his four year and six-month long duties at Fort Drum, New York, in May and reported for duty at Troy University on May 30.”

Captain Gregory was born and raised in Shelby, started his military studies at R.S Central High School Marine Corps JROTC training for two years, graduating in 2004 as a Cadet Sergeant. He received his Bachelor of Arts in American History with a Minor in Physics and a Special Focus Study in Foreign Languages from Appalachian State University in May 2008.

Following his graduation, he enlisted into the United States Army and attended basic training at Fort Benning, GA Freedom CO 2-47 in March of 2013. After achieving the rank of Specialist, he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an officer, Second Lieutenant, on June 5, 2014.

Captain Gregory was first assigned as an Ammunition Control Officer in South Korea with the 17th OD Co of the 6th OD BN at Camp Red Cloud in 2015. While in Korea, Captain Gregory also served as Adjutant to Brig. General Ling, Reserve, within the Joint Logistics Operations Center. In 2016 after one year in Korea, he returned to the United States and was appointed as Platoon Leader for the 602nd Maintenance Auto Platoon at Fort Hood TX in the 553 CSSB.

In 2017, he became the Maintenance Control Officer of 602nd over the services of Auto, S&R, G&E, TMDE and Armament for the units of Fort Hood. In June that year, he was appointed as the Current Plans Officer of the 553 CSSB S3 and was selected to act as a guest OC at Fort Irwin for the month of January in 2018 by the BN. CAPTAIN Gregory attended Captains Career Course in April 2018 graduating in September of that year.

In October of 2018 he was assigned as the Current Operations Officer of the 10 MTN SBDE S3 and was selected, twice, to act as a guest OC at Fort Polk for both February and April of 2019. In October of 2019 Captain Gregory transferred to the 10th MTN DIVARTY working as the Assistant S4 and serving as the BDE’s chief Financial Liability and Property Loss Investigation manager and expert.

In March of 2020, Captain Gregory was appointed itary Sciences at Troy University, and the overall Assistant Professor of Military Studies. to the SPO of the 548th Combat Sustainment Support

Battalion, 10th Sustainment

Brigade, 10th Mountain Division (LI) to serve as the Assistant SPO. He was selected by the 548 CSSB leadership to lead a Logistical Support Team deployed to Atlantic

City NJ in support of COVID outbreak medical response. There he helped provide logistical and contract support to the first line DOD medical responders and served as the OIC for the NJ FAST managing a team of five NCOs See GREGORY, Page 3B lina, Murphy was selected to the U-20 Women’s National Team pool, earned ACC Honor Roll recognition, and made the Dean’s List while playing for Hall of Fame Coach Anson Dorrance.

After earning her bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science from North Carolina in 2000, Murphy played semi-professionally for the Charlotte Lady Eagles in the W-League. She was named captain after her first year and remained in the role until retirement seven years later. A two-time AllW-League and three-time all-conference selection, Murphy is the all-time leading goal scorer and points leader for the Eagles under the guidance of Hall of Fame Coach Lee Horton.

Murphy also played professionally overseas for three years with Santos Futebol Clube (Brazil 1st Division), for two years with Bristol Football Club (England 1st Division), and for one year with Ferroviária Futebol Clube (Brazil 1st Division).

She holds a United States Soccer Federation ‘C’ License, United States Soccer Federation ‘D’ License, United Soccer Coaches Level 1 Goalkeeper Diploma, United Soccer Coaches Level 2 Goalkeeper Diploma and United States Soccer Federation ‘E’ License.

“With great joy, I would like to thank Dr. Downs and Dr. Goodrich for entrusting me with the women’s soccer program at Gardner-Webb,” said Murphy. “I am looking forward to getting started right away and working together with this special university in leading the women’s soccer program towards achieving great things, both on and off the field!”

Murphy takes over as the sixth head coach in program history. In 2023, the Runnin’ Bulldogs return six starters from last year’s runner-up team. The ‘Dawgs posted a 9-7-5 overall record and 4-3-2 mark in conference play, beating top-seeded Campbell University in the conference semifinals before falling to third-seeded Radford University in the Big South Championship Game.