Current Colorado Rockies team president and former Colorado State tight end Keli McGregor died suddenly this morning, the school has announced in a press release.
McGregor, the Denver Post reports, was found dead this morning in a Salt Lake City hotel. While an official cause of death is not known, a Salt Lake detective told the Post that officers on the scene “didn’t see anything suspicious” and that McGregor “pass[ed] away of natural causes.
“This is an enormous and tragic loss for CSU and all of Colorado,” President Tony Frank said in a statement. “Keli was a true champion in life and on the field, who exemplified what we’d want for all our graduates--an honorable and successful business leader, dedicated family man, and loyal alumnus who was unwavering in his support for CSU and our students. The McGregors are an important part of our CSU family, and our hearts are with them and his Rockies colleagues at this difficult time.”
“We are deeply saddened,” said Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk. “Keli was a man of integrity and class, the finest representative of Colorado State University and Ram Athletics. Our condolences go out to Lori, his children and family, the Rockies and all those whose lives he touched.”
McGregor was a two-time All-American at Colorado State in the mid-eighties, but not before making the team as a walk-on in 1981. His 153 career receptions rank fifth on the school’s all-time list, while a 69-catch season still ranks as the third-best year in school history.
The 48-year-old McGregor was a fourth-round pick of the Denver Broncos in the 1985 NFL draft, and also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks before retiring.
He had spent the past 17 seasons in the Colorado Rockies organization, and had been team president since October of 2001.
McGregor leaves behind a wife and four children.
CSU head coach Steve Fairchild summed up the loss being felt by both the McGregor family and his extended football family in Fort Collins in a portion of his statement released through the school.
“What chokes me up the most, though, is that his family just lost their dad, and Lori has lost her husband. I can’t even find words to describe how much of a blow that is for a family to lose a man like that. I’m praying for his family most.
“There are a lot of people here at Colorado State affected by this news. This is a heartbreaking day on our campus.”
Our condolences go out to anyone affected by McGregor’s death.
