William F. "Charlie" McCarthy

William F. "Charlie" McCarthy, passed away on Friday, July 18, 2025, at his residence in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 102. He was born on Monday, August 7, 1922, in Fall River, Massachusetts. Charlie was a Navy veteran, who proudly served in WWII in the Navy Amphibious Forces, from 1942 until 1945, before he returned to Southeastern College. Charlie's first career was as a State Farm Agent in Independence for 20 years. His passion was his thirty year career as a SEC basketball official. He also served for 5 years as a NBA observer; whereby, he took notes at NBA games, as a means to improve the performance of active referees. Following his stint with the NBA, the SEC approached him to work for them as an observer, which he, of course, accepted.

Charlie is survived by his wife of 75 years, Frances Marie "Frankie" McCarthy; son & daughter-in-law, William F. McCarthy Jr. and Jackie P. McCarthy, son & daughter-in-law, Robert McCarthy and Terri Breaux McCarthy, daughter & son-in-law, Mary Clare Horgan and Porter Smith Horgan; grandchildren, Lainey T. Major (Taylor Major), Kandice Clare Trock (Harris Evan Trock), Kristen Clare Drouant (Ross Drouant) and Chloe Clare McCarthy; great-grandaughters, Levi Elaina Major, MiMi Clare Trock, Ruby Clare Trock; great-grandsons, William McCarthy Drouant, Griffen Robert Drouant, Wells Parker Drouant and Jones Robert Trock.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William McCarthy and Clara Jordan McCarthy.

Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Monday July 28th. from 9:00a.m. until 11:00a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11:00a.m., at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 600 North Oak Street, Hammond Louisiana, 70401.

Interment will follow in Southeast Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Slidell, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers the family will establish an athletic scholarship in Charlie's name at Southeastern Louisiana University.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home and Crematory of Hammond and Ponchatoula. An on-line guest book is available at www.harrymckneely.com.