McCreary Honors His Late Wife's Legacy with Baseball Scholarship
2/23/2025 6:52:00 PM | Baseball, General
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – On February 23, 2025, Bob McCreary ('61), longtime friend and dedicated supporter of Wake Forest Athletics, honored the legacy of his late wife, Michele Acosta McCreary, by announcing a $1 million gift to support scholarships for Wake Forest baseball players. This gift will provide two scholarships per year to players for the next five years.
"Once again, Bob McCreary set a new standard with this gift," said Vice President and Director of Athletics John Currie. "It's inspirational to so many and honors Michele's legacy of caring deeply about other people. This is another example of Bob and Michele's servant leadership."
The McCrearys have been steadfast supporters of Wake Forest Athletics; Bob was keen on American football, and Michele was drawn to America's pastime. And she came by that naturally. Growing up in Bakersfield, California, Michele and her younger sister, Cozette, were two of the famous Acosta cousins – a lineup of young women who dominated the local softball diamonds for a solid generation in the 1960s and 1970s. Known as somewhat of a power hitter, Michele incited fear in her competitors and garnered encouragement from her mother – the coach of the team. Her younger brother, Fred Acosta (P '17, P '22), remembers Michele taking him to see the San Francisco Giants after she moved to the city to take her first job. And her love of the game continued as Michele saw Wake Forest baseball through the eyes of her niece, Ayla Acosta ('17, MBA '22), who worked with the team during her undergraduate years before settling into a career with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In 2023, as the baseball team was making its historic run to the College World Series, the McCrearys became enthralled with the program, the players and the potential of the team.
"They liked how we interacted as a team," said Tom Walter, head coach of Wake Forest baseball. "They liked our clubhouse dynamic. They appreciated what we stood for and how our players carried themselves. They wanted to be involved in that."
The McCrearys were regulars at the David F. Couch Ballpark that season. They saw the ingenuity of the pitching lab – where science and medicine are transforming the future of baseball. They witnessed the commitment of the coaches, who were as invested in creating men of integrity as they were interested in having talented ball players. And after spending time with Rhett Lowder ('24), the powerhouse pitcher from Albemarle who now plays for the Cincinnati Reds, the McCrearys saw the character of the players and knew that there was something special happening within the confines of Gene Hooks Field.
Before the season ended, the McCrearys were providing support to the baseball program. They helped Wake Forest baseball add four key positions that contribute coaching, analytics and operations expertise to the team.
"Bob and Michele have always responded to different challenges when we needed them, in the areas we needed most," said Barry Faircloth, executive associate athletic director for development and partnerships.
The next season, Michele was back in the stands, one of the faithful cheering on the Deacons.
"She just loved those guys," remembers Bob.
"Anytime you approached her, you felt like you were important," remembers Walter. "You only meet a few people like that in your lifetime."
This spring, Michele's cheers won't be heard at The Couch, but they will be felt.
Michele passed away unexpectedly on August 21, 2024, at the age of 67. To remember her and honor her enduring legacy during the 2025 season, the Demon Deacons are wearing commemorative "MM" stickers on their batting helmets and have placed the mark on the outfield wall of David F. Couch Ballpark.
"Wearing this sticker and seeing her initials on our helmets and on the outfield wall is a reminder of the impact Michele had on so many lives," said Marek Houston ('26), Wake Forest's shortstop. "My teammates and I are honored to carry her legacy forward and represent the values she stood for every time we take the field."
"We chose to honor Michele because of who she is and what she stands for," said Walter. "Michele was vibrant and had so much passion for life. She was kind, generated positive enthusiasm and always had a smile on her face. She cared about others and wanted to give back."
And so, Michele's legacy of giving back continues through the Michele Acosta McCreary Baseball Scholarship. The goal of the scholarship is to make it possible for student-athletes to pursue their dreams of playing baseball at Wake Forest. That was, after all, where Michele excelled – helping make things possible for other people.
While Wake Forest has been a major beneficiary of Michele and Bob's generosity, Michele's fingerprints can be found across the country – in deeds both known and unknown. Her legacy is felt by colleagues in town and around the world who worked with her to create just the right piece of furniture at McCreary Modern. It's in the faces of the thousands of young people and families who have been given opportunities through Pastor Donald Gray of Mount Sinai Baptist Church and the Mount Sinai-McCreary Community Center in Catawba County. It's in the young thespians who pursue the arts at The Green Room Community Theatre in Newton, North Carolina. It's in the medical facilities that take care of her neighbors in Caldwell and Lenoir. It's felt in the friendships that spanned decades and were marked by authenticity, candor, humor and kindness. And her legacy is in the way she so fiercely loved her family.
"Anytime I can get our players around people who exude family first, life of service over self and giving back, that's a win," said Walter. "The more interaction they have with the Bob and Michele McCrearys of the world, the better off they are and the better prepared they are to be great fathers, husbands and leaders of their communities."
Bob McCreary threw out the first pitch at today's home baseball game. The last time he did that, he could hear Michele cheering from the stands. This time, he carried her legacy and delivered for her and the team she loved so much.
As Bob McCreary honors Michele's legacy, join him in supporting Wake Forest student-athletes. Follow his lead and consider helping Wake Forest Baseball by creating new scholarships. To learn more, contact Barry Faircloth at fairclbw@wfu.edu.
"Once again, Bob McCreary set a new standard with this gift," said Vice President and Director of Athletics John Currie. "It's inspirational to so many and honors Michele's legacy of caring deeply about other people. This is another example of Bob and Michele's servant leadership."
The McCrearys have been steadfast supporters of Wake Forest Athletics; Bob was keen on American football, and Michele was drawn to America's pastime. And she came by that naturally. Growing up in Bakersfield, California, Michele and her younger sister, Cozette, were two of the famous Acosta cousins – a lineup of young women who dominated the local softball diamonds for a solid generation in the 1960s and 1970s. Known as somewhat of a power hitter, Michele incited fear in her competitors and garnered encouragement from her mother – the coach of the team. Her younger brother, Fred Acosta (P '17, P '22), remembers Michele taking him to see the San Francisco Giants after she moved to the city to take her first job. And her love of the game continued as Michele saw Wake Forest baseball through the eyes of her niece, Ayla Acosta ('17, MBA '22), who worked with the team during her undergraduate years before settling into a career with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In 2023, as the baseball team was making its historic run to the College World Series, the McCrearys became enthralled with the program, the players and the potential of the team.
"They liked how we interacted as a team," said Tom Walter, head coach of Wake Forest baseball. "They liked our clubhouse dynamic. They appreciated what we stood for and how our players carried themselves. They wanted to be involved in that."
The McCrearys were regulars at the David F. Couch Ballpark that season. They saw the ingenuity of the pitching lab – where science and medicine are transforming the future of baseball. They witnessed the commitment of the coaches, who were as invested in creating men of integrity as they were interested in having talented ball players. And after spending time with Rhett Lowder ('24), the powerhouse pitcher from Albemarle who now plays for the Cincinnati Reds, the McCrearys saw the character of the players and knew that there was something special happening within the confines of Gene Hooks Field.
Before the season ended, the McCrearys were providing support to the baseball program. They helped Wake Forest baseball add four key positions that contribute coaching, analytics and operations expertise to the team.
"Bob and Michele have always responded to different challenges when we needed them, in the areas we needed most," said Barry Faircloth, executive associate athletic director for development and partnerships.
The next season, Michele was back in the stands, one of the faithful cheering on the Deacons.
"She just loved those guys," remembers Bob.
"Anytime you approached her, you felt like you were important," remembers Walter. "You only meet a few people like that in your lifetime."
This spring, Michele's cheers won't be heard at The Couch, but they will be felt.
Michele passed away unexpectedly on August 21, 2024, at the age of 67. To remember her and honor her enduring legacy during the 2025 season, the Demon Deacons are wearing commemorative "MM" stickers on their batting helmets and have placed the mark on the outfield wall of David F. Couch Ballpark.
"Wearing this sticker and seeing her initials on our helmets and on the outfield wall is a reminder of the impact Michele had on so many lives," said Marek Houston ('26), Wake Forest's shortstop. "My teammates and I are honored to carry her legacy forward and represent the values she stood for every time we take the field."
"We chose to honor Michele because of who she is and what she stands for," said Walter. "Michele was vibrant and had so much passion for life. She was kind, generated positive enthusiasm and always had a smile on her face. She cared about others and wanted to give back."
And so, Michele's legacy of giving back continues through the Michele Acosta McCreary Baseball Scholarship. The goal of the scholarship is to make it possible for student-athletes to pursue their dreams of playing baseball at Wake Forest. That was, after all, where Michele excelled – helping make things possible for other people.
While Wake Forest has been a major beneficiary of Michele and Bob's generosity, Michele's fingerprints can be found across the country – in deeds both known and unknown. Her legacy is felt by colleagues in town and around the world who worked with her to create just the right piece of furniture at McCreary Modern. It's in the faces of the thousands of young people and families who have been given opportunities through Pastor Donald Gray of Mount Sinai Baptist Church and the Mount Sinai-McCreary Community Center in Catawba County. It's in the young thespians who pursue the arts at The Green Room Community Theatre in Newton, North Carolina. It's in the medical facilities that take care of her neighbors in Caldwell and Lenoir. It's felt in the friendships that spanned decades and were marked by authenticity, candor, humor and kindness. And her legacy is in the way she so fiercely loved her family.
"Anytime I can get our players around people who exude family first, life of service over self and giving back, that's a win," said Walter. "The more interaction they have with the Bob and Michele McCrearys of the world, the better off they are and the better prepared they are to be great fathers, husbands and leaders of their communities."
Bob McCreary threw out the first pitch at today's home baseball game. The last time he did that, he could hear Michele cheering from the stands. This time, he carried her legacy and delivered for her and the team she loved so much.
As Bob McCreary honors Michele's legacy, join him in supporting Wake Forest student-athletes. Follow his lead and consider helping Wake Forest Baseball by creating new scholarships. To learn more, contact Barry Faircloth at fairclbw@wfu.edu.
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