Gurnee Flesher competed in track and field for the Bearcats and was a manager of the Willamette football team. He was awarded the Alumni Citation by Willamette in 1965. He was inducted into the NAIA District 2 Hall of Fame in 1964. A long-time administrator in the Salem, Oregon area, Flesher was the first principal at McNary High School in Keizer, Oregon. The McNary football field was named in his honor.