From Staff.

HATTIESBURG – Ben Earl &#8220Go-Go” Garry, the most prolific running back in the history of Southern Miss football, died Saturday in an automobile accident. He was 50.

A native of Hazlehurst, Garry played football at Pascagoula High School before coming to Southern Miss, where he rushed for more than 100 yards a game 17 times during his collegiate career with the Golden Eagles that spanned from 1975-77, including a 216-yard performance against Louisiana Tech in 1976.

He finished his career at Southern Miss with 3,595 yards rushing, the most by any Golden Eagle running back.

In his last football season with the Golden Eagles in 1977, Garry helped lead the school to upset victories over Auburn, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. At the end of that season he was named Honorable Mention All-American and was a First Team All-South Independent selection. He played in the Senior Bowl and was drafted by the Baltimore Colts, but his pro career never materialized.

Garry was retired from International Paper of Moss Point. He was inducted into Southern Miss’ M-Club Sports Hall of Fame in 1998.

&#8220He always said one of the greatest things he did was play football for USM,” said his daughter, Angela Magee, of Moss Point. &#8220He would always share his football stories with the family. He loved it at USM, and that’s why I went to school there, because my dad went to school there. He will be missed.”

Garry’s coach at Southern Miss, Bobby Collins, said he was saddened to learn of his former player’s death. &#8220He was one of my all-time favorites,” said Collins, who was head coach of the Golden Eagles from 1975 to 1981. &#8220You could always depend on him – he worked really hard and was a real team player. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Southern Miss head football coach Jeff Bower, who played alongside Garry in the 1975 season, said his late teammate was &#8220a heck of a player.”

&#8220He was very talented, no ego – I don’t think he realized how good he was,” Bower said. &#8220He was just a great guy, everybody liked him. I never saw him mad. He was always fun to be around.”

Garry is also survived by a son, Ben Earl Garry Jr. of Houston, Texas; two sisters, Willie Ann (Johnny) Terrell of Moss Point and Jackie (Joe) Davison of Pascagoula; three brothers, Steve Garry of Pascagoula, Michael Garry of Phoenix and Lonnie Garry of Anniston, Ala.; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be at noon Saturday at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Moss Point, with burial at Scranton Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church from 10 a.m. until noon.